Better Bridge in Barry County
By Gerald Stein
North
♠ K 7 5 3 2
♥ A 10 7 4 2
♦ A
♣ A K
| ||
West
♠ A 10 6
♥ J 5
♦ Q 8 6 5 3
♣ Q 9 4
|
East
♠ Q J 9 8
♥ ----
♦ 10 9 2
♣ J 10 7 6 3 2
| |
South
♠ 4
♥ K Q 9 8 6 3
♦ K J 7 4
♣ 8 5
|
Dealer:
Vulnerable:
Lead:
|
East
Neither
Pick it
|
North
???
|
East
Pass
Pass
|
South
2♥
Pass
|
West
Pass
Pass
|
In a recent online bridge tournament, thirty-six tables played today’s hand. With neither side vulnerable, South elected to open a weak two-bid with eight high card points and six hearts. The hearts were good hearts. The weak 2♥ bid here is the ideal bid.
With both East and West passing, North had to reach a major decision. What bid did North have to make since he had only one chance to bid it knowing that his partner had exactly what she said she had: six hearts and a minimum number of high-card points.
North had a powerful hand. The fit in hearts is a given. Where should the contract be placed? What are the choices? Four hearts would be a sign-off bid indicating a game in hearts. Five hearts is a wishy-washy bid. Six hearts is a slam try in hearts with a small slam and bonus points for bidding and making a small slam. Seven hearts is also a slam try for a grand slam and all the possible points for this hand. What is your choice?
Counting the high card points in the North hand is a good place to start to determine the correct and best contract for the North/South team. Knowing that the contract will be in the heart suit, North does the math: 18 high-card points with five hearts, five spades, one diamond, and two clubs. The diamond and the club suits are incredible holdings for North. There is not a concern in those two suits nor in the heart suit since North knows that they have eleven hearts between them. No, the major concern is the spade suit with a K♠ and four small spades. Here are North’s choices: go for the sure game in hearts and collect the game bonus plus any overtricks? Or go for the slam choices? Which slam? Again, what would you have done as a Barry County bridge player?
Four hearts? Five hearts? Six hearts? Seven hearts? The huddle is over. It is time for action as a bridge player. Your decision? Bid the slam, of course. Six hearts or seven hearts? Time for another huddle, but this time, the decision seems easier knowing about the weak spades in the North hand. North pulled out the six heart card from the bidding box, and all passed.
West had the lead. There was no hesitation on West’s part. The A♠ was the lead, of course. No sense in giving North/South a chance to take all thirteen tricks. The A♠ held the trick, and then West had to consider another lead. A trump lead or a club lead could not hurt. West chose the club lead, hoping that his Q♣ might set up.
South took the A♣ and drew trumps in two rounds, East showing out on the first time. South then took the A♦, the K♣, the K♠, trumped a spade, led the K♦ and discarded a spade, led another diamond, trumped a diamond, led a spade, trumped a spade, led a diamond and trumped a diamond, led a spade, trumped a spade, led the last diamond, trumped a diamond, led a spade, and trumped a spade, and claimed. North/South had bid and had made the small slam in hearts. How did you do?
In the online tournament, with 36 tables in play, 27 tables bid and made 6♥. No one made an overtrick. Six bid and made 4♥ with two overtricks, and one bid 5♥, making one overtrick. The message is obvious: when a spectacular hand appears, go for the most that you think you can make. In this case, most of the online players knew that this was an unusual hand, and that they should bid it to the maximum. Happy bridge playing in Barry County.
Gerald Stein
December 1, 2012
Number of words: 736
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