BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA 4

uA Q 4

vK Q J 10 9 7

wQ 3

WEST EAST

xJ 9 8 6 3 x10 5 2

uJ 10 8 u9 7 3 2

vA v8 4 3 2

wK J 10 2 wA 9

SOUTH

xK Q 7

uK 6 5

v6 5

w8 7 6 5 4

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1vPass 1NT Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Six of x

Here’s another deal from Eddie Kantar’s award-winning series “Thinking Bridge.”

North is far too strong to make a nonforcing rebid of three diamonds. Three no trump is a much better rebid. North does best to win the ace of spades, hoping to conceal the spade strength in the closed hand.

When on lead with the ace of diamonds, West should try to count declarer’s sure tricks. Given the discouraging deuce of spades from East at trick one, declarer figures to have KQx of spades for three tricks. Five diamond winners are in clear view and the ace of hearts makes nine. If declarer has the ace of clubs, there is no defense. West must play East for that card and shift to the two of clubs at trick three. If East has been invited to the same party, he will win the ace of clubs and return a club. The defenders cash four clubs and a diamond. This is not an easy contract to defeat. First, West must lead a low club. Secondly, East has to be clever enough to return a club, not a spade, after winning the ace of diamonds.

When declarer has enough tricks in three suits to make the contract, and there is any hope in the fourth suit to take quick tricks (with partner needing the ace of clubs), shift to the fourth suit.

As declarer, with a weak suit that has not been led (clubs), consider throwing away a trick in the suit that has been led to encourage a continuation (dumping the queen of spades under the ace at trick one), providing you still have enough tricks to make the contract if the first suit is continued. Here you still have 10 tricks. This is more a rubber bridge or IMP play than a matchpoint play where overtricks are important.

2013 Tribune Media Services