Better Bridge in Barry County May 30 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

South North/South 9♣

 

North   4NT Pass	East   Pass Pass	South 2NT 6NT	West Pass Pass

Today’s column takes a two-way look at slam bidding. One table used the method of “Fast Arrival.” What is “Fast Arrival”? Rather than giving away all of the information about their hands and their holdings in bid suits, this North/South pair elected to open 2NT, promising 19-20 high-card points and a balanced hand.  With North holding 15 high-card points and a balanced hand, North used a 4NT bid, not for the Blackwood Convention asking for aces, but as a Quantitative Bid inviting South to bid slam with extras and passing without extras. Bidding one bid higher than game is considered an invitation to consider slam. In this case, South bid the six no trump knowing that North had a balanced hand and 15-17 high-card points. Should North have gone immediately to 6NT on this hand as an even faster arrival?

Another way is the “slow but sure” approach. Some South bidders would rather have 20-21 high-card points for a 2NT opening bid. Again, this is each player’s prerogative to bid the cards as she sees fit. This South player chose to open 1♦, a convenient minor, promising at least three diamonds and an opening hand of at least 12-13 high-card points. North would continue the bidding at a slower pace as well by bidding up the line, and she bid 1♥, promising at least four hearts and at least six points. Of course, while all of this bidding was going on, the East/West pair was taking in the information provided to plan their defense. Good defenders take in every bit of information they can gather by careful listening.

After North’s 1♥ bid, South bid the 2NT bid, informing North and the table that her hand was in the 18-19 high-card point range. North did not hesitate and immediately placed the contract at 6NT. Both methods arrived at the same contract of a 6NT small slam. Is there one advantage over the “Fast Arrival” approach or the “Slow But Sure” approach? While there may be some advantage over the “Fast Arrival” approach, in that little or no information is conveyed to the defenders, still it appears that your approach is the one that you feel comfortable with. A 6NT contract was reached at both tables, each one choosing the bidding system that worked for their partnership.

As far as the play of the hand, South began to make her plan as soon as she had seen the dummy hand and had thanked her partner. With nineteen points in the South hand and fifteen points in the North hand, there appeared to be enough points to make a small slam where the requisite number is usually thirty-three points. An experienced bridge player knows that it is important to make a plan for twelve tricks needed before the first card is called. South saw that she had eleven tricks without giving up the lead. Where would the twelfth trick come from? This is where the time spent at the beginning of the hand is so important. Take your time and make your plan.

South looked carefully at the two seven-card suits: Hearts and Clubs. Which suit showed the most promise for an extra and winning trick? Knowing the bridge adage of “Take your losers early,” South knew that to win a trick that you need, you need to lose a trick early while you are still in control of the hand. South, satisfied with her plan, saw the lead of the 9♣ and knew that the club suit was safe for a while.

After winning the club lead, South began with two spade leads with both East and West following. There was no new information for South. When South led the K♥ on the fourth trick, however, the J♥ fell from the West hand. Now South completed the rest of her plan. With the valuable 9♥ and the 10♥ in her sight, South knew that it would be hearts where she could pick up the extra trick.

Accordingly, South implemented her plan by leading the 9♥ from her hand. When West discarded a small diamond, South knew that she had made the right decision. East gathered in the Q♥, but no matter what East returned, South was in control and claimed the rest of the tricks, making a small slam in no trump.

All in all, South took three heart tricks, three spade tricks, three diamond tricks, and three club tricks for the twelve tricks needed. Taking the time to make her plan and being flexible and aware of what cards were being played provided South with enough information to make a sound judgment and a fine score of 1440 on a 6NT hand.

 

Gerald Stein

May 24, 2013

Number of words: 962

 

 

Bridge Notes: As the “Play of the Hand” class winds down in Battle Creek at the Kellogg Community College campus, be aware that plans for the fall bridge classes are now in progress. The next class in the American Contract Bridge League’s sequence is “Defense in the 21^st Century.” Look for an eight-week class in the fall on how to be a strong bridge defender. Contact KCC’s Life Long Learning program for more information.