Better Bridge in Barry County September 11 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

North Neither 3♥

 

North Pass Pass	East Pass Pass	South 1NT	West Pass

In your bridge world, how many times have you seen or experienced this kind of auction? One bidder has a 1NT opening bid, and all pass. Some players dread this contract; others welcome it as a chance to not only make the contract but to take overtricks as well. Let’s see how well South was able to do with today’s hand and a 1NT contract and not vulnerable.

South has the ideal hand for a 1NT opening bid: with a balanced hand, stoppers in three of the four suits, and a range of points between 15-17, it is easy to see why South opened 1NT. Of course, he would have liked partner North to have enough to go on, but often that is not the case. North with seven high card points bid as she should have: without eight high card points, the best place to play this hand would be in 1NT. Accordingly, North passed as did everyone else.

West chose the standard lead of fourth down from her longest and strongest, an effective lead in no trump. West tabled the 3♥, and North placed her cards on the table. South promptly thank her for her hand, a courtesy that cements a partnership and creates good will each and every time it is done. South paused long enough to make a plan, one of the best things a declarer can do instead of promptly calling for that first card without taking the time to think things through.

South could count five sure winners in both hands: A♥, A♦, K♦, A♣, and the K♣. The other tricks would have to come from spades if possible, and the club suit looked promising. The heart suit certainly looked shaky to South as he saw the opening lead. This would take some careful playing of the hand.

South called for a small heart, and East rose with the K♥. South won the trick with the A♥. At least, now South knew where the Q♥ was, as East would have played the lower of the two honors if she had had the Q♥. On trick two, South began work on the 4-4 fit in clubs, a good strategy for gaining an extra trick. South played to the A♣ on the board with all playing a club. A small club return to South’s J♣ was won by the Q♣. South was satisfied with that as the clubs had split 3-2, and there would be an extra club winner eventually.

West shifted gears and led the 10♦, hoping to reach her partner East. Both the dummy and East played low, and South won the trick with the A♦. Using the K♣ next saw the 10♣ fall from the East hand, and the 9♣ was played next for three tricks in the club suit. West discarded two small spades, perhaps suggesting to partner East that she had something in spades. South meant to find out and led a small spade toward the K♠ on the board, hoping that West would either play the A♠ or duck and let the K♠ win. West won the trick with the A♠.

Taking her Q♥ was West’s next move which was all right with South as that now set up the J♥ in the South hand. West led the 9♦ next, and South won that trick with the K♦. On trick ten, South played the good J♥ winning. With the K♠ all set up, South led a small spade to his K♠ on the board, and was he delighted when East’s Q♠ fell on the K♠. The 10♠and the 9♠ had been promoted and were the final two winning tricks for South.

The final score for this hand? South had taken ten tricks in no trump, making three overtricks for a fine score of 180. That was good enough to earn top honors on this hand as most of the other tables managed to take just two overtricks and not the three. South earned a 95% on this hand as did two other South declarers.

What is our takeaway for today? While a 1NT hand can be a difficult hand to play, it can often lead to a good score for you and your partner if you look at the hand as an opportunity instead of a dreaded contract. The 1NT auction is here to stay; it will not go away. Take the time to make a plan; take the time to thank your partner; and take your time to be patient for the tricks to set up for you. With that kind of attitude, you will be the envy of your bridge table. They will or should all congratulate you on a fine play of the hand. Now what could be better than that? Happy Bridge playing!

 

Gerald Stein

September 5, 2014

Number of words: 941

 

Bridge Notes: “Learn Bridge in a Day?” seminar is being planned now for October 18^th at the Hastings Area Community and Recreation Center. Check out the details in the latest flyer or stop by their office for signup and registration.