Better Bridge in Barry County
By Gerald Stein
North
♠ 8 5 4
♥ 10
♦ K 6
♣ K Q 10 9 5 4 3
| ||
West
♠ K Q J 7 2
♥ K J 8 3
♦ 9 3 2
♣ 6
|
East
♠ 6 3
♥ 9 6 2
♦ Q 10 8 7 5
♣ A J 2
| |
South
♠ A 10 9
♥ A Q 7 5 4
♦ A J 4
♣ 8 7
|
Dealer:
Vulnerable:
Lead:
|
North
North/South
K♠
|
North
3♣
Pass
|
East
Pass
Pass
|
South
3NT
|
West
Pass
|
Today’s column presents the pre-emptive bidding problem for declarers and defenders. Take a look at North’s hand. North’s hand has all of the markings for a pre-emptive bid in clubs with seven clubs, three of the top five club honors, eight high-card points, a singleton in hearts, and possibly a useful K♦. The problem is bidding a pre-emptive bid in first position. Is it a good idea, or not? As it turns out, today’s South had a sound no trump hand with fifteen high-card points, stoppers in the three unbid suits, and was glad to hear North bid a pre-emptive club bid. A bid of 3NT seemed to be the right bid.
While some South bidders might have passed or bid something different, the bid of 3NT is actually the right bid. Passing three clubs would result in North playing and making just the 3♣ bid. While taking nine tricks with clubs as trump is noble, yet there was a better contract available, and North and South found it together. It was not an easy contract to make, by the way. Making 3♣ would have resulted in a positive score of 110 for North/South. Bidding up to 5♣, not a good idea or contract, would have resulted in a minus 200 point loss for North/South, down two tricks vulnerable.
The rationale behind North’s opening bid in first position seemed to be in the partnership agreement that North and South have. A sound pre-emptive bid as shown in today’s hand is the necessary ingredient. A ratty-looking pre-emptive bid is reckless and not good solid bridge. Having seven strong clubs was necessary for the pre-emptive bid. North had that key component for her bid.
So whether South had anything or not, North’s bid was sound, and South bid the 3NT contract based on his hand and what he had heard from partner North. Does 3NT make, however? The key to that answer was using the long clubs that North had promised. West led the K♠, the top of a strong spade sequence. South must hold up as long as possible, hoping to deplete East’s doubleton in spades and to cut the communication between the East/West defenders.
Accordingly, South ducked the opening lead of the K♠ as well as the continuation of the Q♠. When East discarded the 6♠ on the first spade trick, and the 3♠ on the second trick, West knew that this was a count signal, showing an even number with a high-low play of the spades, and that East had no more spades. There was no future in continuing the spade suit. West looked at the dummy for information.
Clubs were obviously out as that would only help South. Diamonds looked secure. West looked at the singleton l0♥, and led a heart, the 3♥. Much to West’s dismay, North’s 10♥ held the trick. By now, South had made his plan and needed nine total tricks in no trump. The clubs had to be the suit to set up. From the dummy, South led the 3♣! Wisely or not, West took the trick with the J♣ and returned the 7♦ instead of a heart. South captured the diamond lead with the A♦ in the South hand, leaving the K♦ as an entry for the clubs in the North hand.
A club lead from the South hand went to the K♣, West showing out of clubs. East took the K♣ with the A♣, and too late, returned a heart. South did not hesitate. He took the A♥, then the A♠ in his own hand, and led a small diamond to the K♦ on the board, accessing those beautiful set-up clubs. Running the four good clubs, combined with the two heart tricks, the one spade trick, and the two diamond tricks provided South with the nine tricks needed to make the contract of 3NT. A well-deserved score of 600 for bidding and making the vulnerable no trump game was a wonderful Christmas present.
The message here is, of course, to bid a pre-emptive bid in any of the first three seats. Bidding a pre-emptive bid in fourth seat after three passes might be a little too risky, and passing the hand for another better one might be the best choice possible. Happy bridge-playing during this Christmastime.
Gerald Stein
December 16, 2012
Number of words: 819
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