Better Bridge in Barry County May 31 2012

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

	North ♠ K7 ♥ 986 ♦ AQ973 ♣ J95
West ♠ J95 ♥ J10752 ♦ K2 ♣ 632		East ♠ A10863 ♥ Q4 ♦ 8 ♣ KQ874
	South ♠ Q42 ♥ AK3 ♦ J10654 ♣ A10

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West Both ♠ J

North Pass 3 D	East 1 S Pass	South 2 D Pass	West Pass Pass Pass

 In today’s column, let us look at a bad contract for North-South. With a 10-card fit in diamonds, the North-South team was content to play at three diamonds. Although they make three diamonds easily, they received a bad score compared to the other teams playing the same cards at other tables. What happened? Were they frightened off by East who bid one spade in third seat? For third position, most players know that they can open a bit lighter than the normal opening bid of 13 points. Is that what happened here? Let us see.

East indeed did open a bit light, but to her credit, it was a good bid with 11 high card points and one for length. While her spades are not the best, a knowledgeable bridge player knows that if she doesn’t get the bid, at least her partner will have a lead to her spades. The lead indeed was the jack of spades from her partner.

Where then did the North-South team go wrong? South has a solid 14 high card points in his hand and one for length in the diamond suit. His 2 diamond bid is a bit ragged with jack high, but at least we give him credit for bidding. West with five high card points and one for length might have ventured a two-spade bid, showing at least three spades and a minimum hand, and at some tables that is exactly what happened. At other tables, West passed without much effort.

North with ten high card points and one for length supported the diamond bid by bidding three diamonds. The contract is set at three diamonds played by South. What did North-South miss?

Counting the points in the North-South hand, it is easy to see that they have a total count of twenty-five points, enough in these bridge days to bid and make game in three different strains: spades, hearts, and no trump. There are definitely not enough points to make game in diamonds where twenty-nine points usually are needed for the five-diamond bid, yet, on this hand, five diamonds is a possible game. What North-South missed, even though there was an intimidating bid by the East-West team in spades, was a game in three no trump. Who missed the game for North-South? Or was it impossible to find?

It appears that this is where a partnership agreement needs to be firmly established. Instead of being content to play three diamonds for a part score and, in this case, a decidedly poor score compared to others, it is up to the Responder to suggest no trump. A cue bid of two spades by North if West does not bid, or a cue bid of three spades by North if West does support her partner’s opening spade bid promises a limit raise of 10-11 points in the North hand. Or, alternately, North can bid two no trump, and North would play the hand as declarer in no trump. That is all that South needs to hear. With his 14 points and 10-11 points in his partner’s hand, it is easy for South to bid three no trump. Will it make?

Three no trump by South (or North) will make all day long. With the jack of spades lead by West, South pauses and counts his winners. Five diamond tricks (a finesse is needed), one spade trick, two heart tricks, and one club trick will bring home the three no trump contract. Was it a risky bid for North-South to make? With some help in the spade suit (the king of spades), good diamonds, North can turn a safe three diamond contract into an invitation for South to consider and play the contract in three no trump. Instead of a bottom score, which is what they received for making three diamonds, they could have had the top score by bidding and making three no trump. Whenever there is a fit in a minor suit, consider playing the contract in no trump. You will be surprised at your success and your top score to boot.

Gerald Stein

April 28, 2012

757 words