bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x9 8

uK 8 6 5

vK J 5 4

w4 3 2

WEST EAST

xJ 10 7 3 xK 6 5 4 2

u10 uQ 9 7

v10 6 3 2 v8 7

wA 9 8 5 wQ J 10

SOUTH

xA Q

uA J 4 3 2

vA Q 9

wK 7 6

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2NT Pass 3w Pass

3u Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of x

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

It pays to open two no trump with a balanced 20-21 points, five-card major notwithstanding.

The opening lead should come up to, not through, the strong hand.

If South opens one heart, hears a one-no-trump response (likely) and raises correctly to three no trump, the strong hand will be dummy.

Seeing the strong hand on the table makes for much more accurate defense.

At a trump contract, a suit headed by two adjacent honors is considered enough of a sequence to justify leading the top honor. At notrump, three adjacent honors (J-10-9), or the third card missing by one (J-10-8) is considered a sequence and the top honor is led.

When the third card is missing by more than one place (J-10-7-3), lead fourth-best.

When partner leads a jack against a suit contract, third hand assumes a suit headed by the J-10, or shortness if the 10 is visible.

Rarely, if ever, from a suit headed by the A-J-10-(x). One seldom underleads aces at suit contracts to begin with and never smack into the strong hand. Please.

South, missing the queen of hearts, is looking at a vulnerable club holding if East gets in.

On the bright side, South is looking at a fourth diamond upon which a club can be discarded. To avoid an accident (East getting in prematurely), South crosses to the king of hearts and then leads a heart to the jack (finessing through the danger hand).

Even if West wins the queen, the king of clubs is safe from attack.

As it happens, the finesse works and 11 tricks are taken. “Eight ever, nine never” does not apply when there is a danger hand. Keeping the danger hand off lead takes precedence.

To find out more about “Thinking Bridge” and other Kantar writings, go to www.kantarbridj.com.

2012 Tribune Media Services