Bridge

Bridge

NORTH

x3

uA J 10

vK J 6 4 3 2

wQ 10 9

WEST EAST

xQ J 8 7 2 x10 9

u6 4 u5 3 2

vQ 7 5 vA 10 9 8

wK 8 3 wA J 6 2

SOUTH

xA K 6 5 4

uK Q 9 8 7

vVoid

w7 5 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2v Pass

2u Pass 2NT Pass

3u Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of w

This is another of Eddie Kantar’s ”Thinking Bridge” deals, designed for players desirous of improving their game.

”North has a choice of non-forcing rebids (unless two diamonds is played as a game force): two no trump or three diamonds. In order to raise a secondary suit directly, four-card support is needed. This is an important bidding principle. As it happens, whether North rebids two no trump or three diamonds, South rebids three hearts to show a five-card suit, and responder happily raises to game.

”West’s spade holding suggests a trump lead to stop spade ruffs in dummy, but his diamond holding suggests the more attacking club lead.

”When dummy plays low at trick one, East plays the jack. The lead of a low card suggests an honor, and the only honor not visible is the king. After the defense cashes three clubs, both defenders know that South, who has shown 10 major-suit cards during the auction, has a diamond void. Furthermore, whoever winds up on lead after three clubs have been cashed should shift to a trump to stop spade ruffs. A trump switch combined with East not playing the ace of diamonds when a low diamond is led from dummy defeats four hearts.

”If the defenders do not switch to a trump after winning three clubs, declarer gets home on a crossruff but must cash the two top spades before crossruffing.”

For more information about ”Thinking Bridge” and other Kantar writings, go to www.kantarbridge.com.

2012 Tribune Media Services