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Bridge
 Playing
a weak notrump, there is rarely any need to open a prepared IC. When you
are too strong for INT you can open in your four-card suit, planning to
rebid a notrumps. North could not bear to open IS on such a feeble suit,
however, and as a result his partner declared 4S rather than him. How
would you play the hand when West leads the jack of diamonds? Suppose
you try dummy’s queen. You should now go down. East will win with the
king and switch to a low heart. West will take the 10 with his queen and
switch back to diamonds. You cannot then avoid the loss of four tricks.
A similar fate awaits if you rise with dummy’s ace of diamonds. The
only way to make the contract is to duck the first round of diamonds,
leaving West (the safe hand) on lead. East cannot overtake with the king
without setting up a second discard for you. If East allows the jack to
hold, you will win the second diamond, draw two rounds of trumps with
the ace and king, and throw your last diamond on the third round of
clubs. After ruffing dummy’s last diamond good, you will cross to the
trump 10 and play a heart to the 10. When West wins with the queen he
will be endplayed, forced to play another heart or to concede a
ruff-and-discard.
 What rebid would you
choose on the West cards?
Answer
The K-J-x in clubs has
increased in value after South’s overall and is now worth around six
points. You have enough for game and must choose whether to play in
spades or no-trumps. I have a preference for no-trumps, since nine
tricks may be easier than ten. Also, you avoid any risk of an adverse
club ruff. Awards: 3NT-10, 4S-8, 3S-7, Double/2NT-4, 2S-3.
David Bird
— Knight Features
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