Better Bridge in Barry County
By
Gerald Stein
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North
♠ K J 7 6
♥ K Q J 10 6
♦ A 5
♣ 10 7
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West
♠ Q 9 5 3 2
♥ 9 8
♦ 10 3 2
♣ J 4 2
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East
♠ 10 4
♥ 5 4 3
♦ 8 7 6 4
♣ 9 8 5 3
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South
♠ A 8
♥ A 7 2
♦ K Q J 9
♣ A K Q 6
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Dealer:
Vulnerable:
Lead:
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South
East/West
3♠
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North
2♥
5NT
Pass
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East
Pass
Pass
Pass
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South
2♣
2NT
7NT
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West
Pass
Pass
Pass
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While Grand Slam hands do not show up too
frequently, still they do show up once in a while. Today’s hand is a good
example of partnership bidding and a keen awareness of total high card points
between North and South. Let’s take a look at today’s super hand.
South as opener counted his cards twice just to be
sure he was not seeing things. His count for high card points came to an
astounding twenty-three. A 2♣ opening bid was in order, and visions of a slam
danced in South’s head. North as well marveled at his hand when he saw more
than the usual three or four high card points that usually show up when partner
opens with a big hand. This time, however, North had a strong heart suit and
fourteen high card points. The bid from North bypassed the usual 2♦ waiting bid and went directly to the good heart
suit. North bid 2♥ promising at least five
hearts and at least eight high card points.
With that knowledge, South bid 2NT opting to keep
the big hand as the declaring hand and not offering the opponents the
opportunity to see where all the high cards were. Not that it would have
mattered on this hand, but it is a wise bridge move to keep the big hand as the
closed hand and the smaller hand in value as the dummy hand.
North used a 5NT bid as a quantitative bid, inviting
South to a 7NT contract. North was promising 12-14 high card points as well as
a strong heart suit. South readily accepted the invitation and placed the
contract at 7NT.
With little chance of doing much, West led the 3♠,
the fourth down from her longest suit, a standard lead against no trump
contracts. It appeared that there was little else that would have mattered. As
soon as South surveyed the impressive dummy that North had laid down, it was
obvious that counting total points put them in the 37 high card range. That is,
of course, the magical number needed for most Grand Slams. South knew that
there were only three points out, and probably the Q♠ was in the West hand from
the lead.
Counting up the winners was South’s next step, and
with all of the top cards in both hands, it was an easy and enjoyable claim of
all thirteen tricks. The prize for bidding and making a Grand Slam contract was
1520 total points for a first place finish. Just how many declarers managed the
7NT contract? Just two declarers found the final contract in no trump. Can you
guess where the other thirteen declarers ended up? Yes, they were in a 7♥ Grand Slam contact, taking all thirteen tricks and
scoring a 1510 score and ending up below the two 7NT declarers by a mere ten
point difference but in second place just the same.
Knowing about the advantage of even ten points is a huge
plus in competitive bridge tournaments. Even in friendly social bridge circles,
it is always a thrill to pick up those extra points on your side of the ledger.
Once again, when you get to those daring contracts in six or seven, and you are
ready to play in a small slam or a Grand Slam, consider going to the no trump
bid. Who knows? That extra ten points might make you the winner for the
evening.
Gerald Stein
August 6, 2014
Number of words: 776
Bridge Notes: Another opportunity for those wanting
to learn how to play bridge will be offered again this fall at the Hastings
Community and Recreational Center. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 18th,
2014. “Learn Bridge in a Day?” is a nationally recognized bridge program that
presents the basics in a one-day seminar. Check the program guide with the
Hastings Community and Recreation Center that will be out soon. If you know of
someone who has expressed an interest in learning how to play bridge, steer
them to this one-day program.
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