Sunday, August 12, 2001		Bridge

Establishing the dummy’s suit
by Omar Sharif

THERE were a number of points of interest in this week’s hand, sent to me by H.G. Craig of Freshwater.

South dealt with East-West vulnerable and opened Three Diamonds. West overcalled with Four Clubs and the two sets of opponents, bidding the minor suits alternately, advanced to Seven Clubs and a sacrifice of Seven Diamonds.

This was doubled and the penalty was 300 points.

My first thought was that Three Diamonds was not a very effective barrage with an eight-card suit and that an opening bid of Four Diamonds or even Five Diamonds might have been better judged. The normal objection to pre-empting when you have a four-card major as a side suit does not seem relevant here — the South hand surely prefers to play with Diamonds as trumps even if there is a fit elsewhere.

Secondly, West’s choice of Four Clubs was a little on the feeble side — a double for take out or even an overcall in Diamonds should have led to a Spade contract.

Next, I am sure that if I held the North hand I would have raised partner’s pre-empt immediately to the Six or Seven level — then East-West’s chances of reaching Seven Spades would be much reduced.

Finally, a thought on the play. Why did South lose 300 points and not just 100?

Suppose West leads a top Club and declarer ruffs. There are three quick entries to hand to trump losing Spades, but then, to reduce the defenders’ chances of leading their trump (thereby later making a Spade trick) declarer should give up a Heart trick by leading dummy’s Queen.

And if West had led a Heart initially, dummy’s suit could have been established for the loss of only one trick.