Better Bridge in Barry County June 20 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

East East/West A♣

 

North   1♠ 3♠ Pass	East 1♦ 2♦ Pass Pass	South Dbl 2♠ 4♠	West 1♥ Pass Pass

Today’s column provides a look at a lot of bidding by everyone at the table. With so much bidding going on, how does the North/South team end up in a game contract in spades? Let’s take a look.

East opened the bidding with a solid five-card diamond suit with thirteen high-card points and one point for length. Certainly that was a legitimate bid as an opener. With a shortage in diamonds, thirteen high-card points and one point for length, South was certainly correct in using the take out double to demand a bid from partner North.

With a weak hand, West elected to bid one heart. The hearts were certainly nothing to write home about, and West probably gave away some valuable information informing the table that she had four hearts and a minimum response in the 6-9 point range.

North with eight high-card points and shortness in clubs gave a one spade bid, promising at least four spades, but some might expect five spades over the one heart bid. At any rate, everyone was in on the bidding frenzy, and it did not stop there.

East continued her quest for diamonds despite not much of a response from West. She bid two diamonds. South countered with a two-spade bid, and gradually the North/South team made it to game at the four-level. With only 21 high-cards between them, it seemed like North/South would have a difficult time making this contract.

East chose the A♣ for her opening lead. Despite an encouraging sign from West with the 7♣, East thought twice about leading a second club at the second trick. A diamond lead came next with the A♦, and East/West had the first two tricks. Did East err on the first two leads in this hand? Let’s back up as it is easy to see that North/South will prevail with ten tricks taken with the defense that East/West proposed. What needs to happen to have East/West as the winning team on this hand?

Just as a declarer needs to have a plan before the first trick is played, so likewise the defenders should be using their time to make a plan to take the setting tricks and gain the upper hand. With everyone bidding and North/South reaching a major game that usually requires 25-26 points, East must stop and remember what she has heard from the bidding. What does East know once the bidding has ended? She knows the following: there are13 high card points in her hand, and probably six in her partner’s hand. That alone should send up a red flag. With 19 points between them, East knows that North/South have overbid and probably only have about 21 high card points. Leading out the aces cannot be the way to set this hand. What is the right move then?

With the laborious arrival at a game in spades (one spade, two spades, three spades, four spades), East should realize that her first lead cries out for a trump lead. South has already informed the table with the take out double that she is short in diamonds. Most likely, North and South each have four spades, and a spade lead each time will deprive North of any chance for extra tricks through ruffing in the dummy. A crossruff will easily hand North/South a game in the spade suit if the trump suit is left undisturbed. East can thwart that plan by her first lead. East chose the 2♠.

North won the trick with the J♠, and she led a small diamond toward the 10♦. East snatched the diamond return with the Q♦, and you guessed it: she led another small spade. North won again with the K♠ and tried another diamond toward the dummy. When East covered the 2♦ with the 4♦, North threw away a small club. West won with the 9♦. West led a heart and North won with the K♥. North next led her singleton 3♣ with East taking with the A♣, and East led a trump a third time, essentially destroying all hope for North of getting a crossruff.

Using this plan of defense, East/West won two diamond tricks and two club tricks because East listened to the bidding and knew that leading trump in this situation would be the most effective defensive strategy. North/South ended up short one trick for a minus fifty points.

The message on this hand is clear: when the auction is a competitive auction and everyone is bidding, there is something wrong. Saving the aces that East had as entries back into her hand was a powerful defensive move and gave the partnership a well-deserved positive score instead of a minus 420. East led the small trumps every chance she could and it paid off. The defenders were the ones celebrating this time.

 

Gerald Stein

June 16, 2013

Number of words: 914