Better Bridge in Barry County for February 21 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  K Q 8 3 ♥  K J 9 5 2 ♦  6 ♣  Q 9 2
West ♠  7 6 5 2 ♥  A 3   ♦  8 5 2 ♣  A J 8 4		East ♠  J 10 9 ♥  Q 10 6 4   ♦  K 9 3 ♣  K 5 3
	South ♠  A 4 ♥  8 7   ♦  A Q J 10 7 4 ♣  10 7 6

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West Both 4♣

 

North   Pass 2♥ Pass	East   Pass Pass Pass	South   2♦ 2NT	West Pass Pass Pass

While many modern bridge players use the weak two-bid, few of them opt to use it in the fourth position. By the time, the bid has been passed around to the first three players, there are not a lot of points left for the last bidder. Today’s South seemed to find courage somewhere to open the bidding in last chair with a weak two-diamond bid, promising a weak hand, six diamonds with most of the points in the diamond suit, and not much more. Usually the weak-two bid is an obstructive bid used in the first or second position to interfere with the opponents. Today’s deal is a bit unusual, so let’s see how it turned out.

By looking at the four hands, it is easy to see that the points were evenly distributed among the four players. A number of tables, when this hand was played, passed out this hand, and they moved on to the next hand. Perhaps that was not such a bad idea.

At this table, however, after South opened with a 2♦ bid, West passed, and North with 11 high card points bid the solid heart suit at 2♥. East passed, and brave South pushed the partnership to 2NT. Other tables pushed the contract to 3♦ where all passed. Let’s look at the 2NT contract for a discussion of today’s hand.

South with two doubletons, a long diamond suit, and weak clubs, might be chastised by some partners for that bid of 2NT. West chose the 4♣ as the lead, the fourth down from the longest and strongest suit, a standard lead in no trump in most bridge players’ book. South duly thanked her partner as she surveyed the dummy. Needing eight tricks, it was important to stop and count the winners first: three in spades, A♠, K♠, and Q♠; one in diamonds, A♦ for four tricks. Four more were needed to make the 2NT contract.

With only one diamond on the board, South had to hope that the diamonds would split 3-3 to give her a chance in promoting the diamonds. There would only be one opportunity for a finesse with the 6♦ on the board, so the 3-3 split was a top priority and a necessity. South also had to protect that Q♣ on the board as a possible trick as well. A heart trick would also be needed. In other words, there was a lot of work to make a 2NT contract.

South played low from the dummy, and East won the trick with the K♣, returning the 5♣. South played the 7♣ from her hand, and West won the second trick with the A♣. A third club led from West was won by Q♣ on the board. This was the time for the diamond finesse. South led the lone 6♦ from the board, and when East played low, South played the 10♦ winning the trick. Next South led the A♦, planning to discard a small heart from the dummy. Both opponents played a second diamond. So far so good.

South then led a third diamond, the Q♦, with West following with a diamond, another discard from the dummy, and East winning with the K♦. The diamonds had split 3-3, and South had an eventual entry with the A♠. Things were looking up for South.

East shifted to the 4♥, 7♥ from South, and West took the trick with the A♥. Now the K♥ was set up, the spades looked solid, and the only loser left was the J♣ which West cashed immediately. East/West had taken five tricks, but the rest were claimed by South, making a 2NT bid for a plus 120 point score.

While most bridge players who use weak two-bids will make their bid and then retire, figuring that they have gotten in the way somewhat. They will have offered as well a good lead from their partner if they do not get the bid. Bidding a weak two-bid in the fourth chair at the table, while unusual, certainly can and did pay good dividends for the North/South team. While most players would have passed the hand out, some bridge players that you will meet will indeed be the daring ones and will bid no matter what. Do the best that you can on defense, and hope to set them a trick or two, or at least hold them to the bid.

 By the way, for those of you who wanted to push on to 3♦. you would find that 3♦ does indeed make on this hand as well as the 2NT.

 

Gerald Stein

February 5, 2013

Number of words: 925

 

Bridge Etiquette Tip Number Three: “Director, Please” is a pleasant and courteous way to call for the one directing your bridge game. Directors are happy to hear that little word “Please” after their name. Try it next time you play,  and see if it doesn’t bring a smile to your director’s face.