bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x5 4

u8 2

vA K 10

wA K J 10 6 3

WEST EAST

x8 6 xA Q J 10 7

uK Q 9 6 uA 7 3

v9 7 6 5 4 2 v8

w9 w8 7 5 2

SOUTH

xK 9 3 2

uJ 10 5 4

vQ J 3

wQ 4

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w 1x NT Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Eight of x

Here’s another deal from Eddie Kantar’s award-winning series “Thinking Bridge,” designed for players eager to improve their game.

South has a choice of responses — one no trump limits the hand as to count and distribution, but may lose hearts. A negative double (for takeout, not penalties) getting hearts into the picture, is also flawed — if partner rebids two clubs, a follow-up bid of two no trump shows 11-12 high-card points. All things considered, one no trump is slightly better. North has an easy raise to three no trump with a “no-trump” club suit (a suit that is easy to run).

The opening lead is a normal high from a doubleton. With 8 6 2 or 8 6 3 2, North leads the two if he hasn’t supported the suit, the eight if he has. The lead of a high spot-card in an unsupported suit shows shortness. The lead of a low spot-card in a supported suit shows an honor. Reread that.

The outcome of this contract is decided early on, like at trick two! East knows that South has the king of spades to go along with six clubs (the queen must drop even if South doesn’t have it), plus at least two diamond tricks for a grand total of nine quick ones as soon as South gains the lead. If the hand is to be defeated, it must be defeated in hearts, not spades — and now! The correct defense is to win the ace of spades and shift to a low heart, guaranteeing a high honor. Whichever heart South plays, West wins and, with three hearts remaining, returns his lowest. East wins the ace and returns a heart, allowing the defense to take four heart tricks. Down one.

When a defender can count declarer for enough quick tricks in three suits to make the contract, it’s not a bad idea to shift to the fourth suit. In fact, it’s a very good idea!

2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.