All News

or your hand!

Undervalued.

Today’s deal was played recently at 19 tables and only four of the South players really appreciated the worth of their hand. It might not seem to be worth very much because its high-card point count was only two!

 Several South players ended up defending their opponents’ 4S contract, a contract which could have netted their side 800. That score was unrealistic but 500 was certainly possible and if the contract was not doubled, then North-South should have recorded 100…but for over half of those defending, their score was -620. Something went wrong defensively. Let’s take a look.

 

Your partner’s 1 promised at least a 4-card suit and your 2 showed at least a 6-card suit and less than 6 hcp.

Do you regret anything about the bidding?

Your partner leads the A (declarer plays 10) and continues with K. Which two cards do you play to tricks 1 and 2?

Many South players never made a bid and hardly any got to mention their heart suit, which was a pity. While those whose 1 opening was natural had an advantage over “short-clubbers”, all had the opportunity to make a weak jump overcall (yes by opener’s partner) after East had overcalled 1. That would have allowed North to show some support for hearts and South to take stock when their opponents bid up to 4.

We will return to South’s hand evaluation after we look at the defence to 4. At all tables where that was the final contract, West led either a top heart or top club. They got to cash a second high heart but the attempt at cashing the second high club did not succeed. West ruffed, drew trumps and had five diamond tricks to go with the five trumps…+620.

South should have been able to stop that happening. One’s methods may be different though there should be a way to stop North trying to cash a second high club, other than the fact that West followed to the first round of clubs with the queen.  Some give count when their partner leads a high honour to a suit contract. In that case, in our example, South is required to show an even number of hearts and an even number of clubs. If North knew that even number of clubs meant 4, they might just find the needed diamond switch.

Just giving count can be restrictive. Many prefer attitude signals, certainly when the ace is led. Attitude (like or not like) should work here. On the A lead, South can discourage, whether or not they have bid the suit. So, a dutiful partner can switch to a high club and South will discourage that suit too. A trump can hardly appeal to North and so the diamond switch is found. There is the little matter of playing back a heart not a club, easier to find if North’s opening promised at least 4 clubs. Perhaps, we should look at all four hands as there was an easier way of beating the contract and with greater reward.

 

It would perhaps be easier had South known their partner had heart support but the opportunity was there for all at trick 1. On A which may or may not promise the king, South can throw the only honour they hold! Why would South throw Q when J is on the table? The answer must surely be to get a switch to the higher non-trump suit. Would North trust their partner? If so, there should be five tricks for the defence, including two diamond ruffs. It is utterly unrealistic for North to lead a diamond at trick 1. That lead gives South three ruffs and defeats the contract by three tricks!

Throwing away one's assets

It's OK. It's in a good cause!

Note that with a doubleton heart in dummy, throwing Q was not going to cost a trick no matter who held K. So, you only have one honour and you throw it away at trick 1!

 Such are the vagaries of Bridge. Yet, might our South have regretted anything about the bidding above?

Let’s have another look at the South hand. 984  Q87542   -  9832

Spades.     The opponents have a good fit and we have 3. Our partner should have no more than one.

Hearts.       We have 6 and our partner should have 3 maybe even 4. Not too many losers there.

Diamonds. No losers there if hearts are trumps.

Clubs.        A bit of an unknown but our partner did start the bidding with that suit. However, with 4 sounding a reasonable contract, would it be too much to expect two of the top three club honours in opener's suit?

That all adds up to very few losers and only the club break prevented a heart (or club) slam being made.

Our void and three card spade suits are real positives. Our two-count, with a club fit on the side, was worth much more. Had we bid 5, our opponents had the choice of passing (best), doubling, maybe even going 5 and there +800 was a much more realistic score, as long as we discarded our only honour!

Michael’s Fun!

 

Your partner’s 1 is natural while 2 promises at least 5-5 in spades and another suit, presumably not diamonds. What now?

Richard Solomon

Go Back View All News Items