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BRIDGE
 North’s
2H shows a sound raise in spades (direct bids of 2S or 3S would have
been pre-emptive). Since South would have overcalled without the ace
of diamonds he feels entitled to rebid 3S. North raises to game and
the two of hearts is led. How would you play the hand? The lead is an
obvious singleton and you should rise with dummy’s ace of hearts.
After drawing trumps in two rounds, you run the nine of hearts to
East. West shows out on this trick and East wins with the queen.
Suppose he switches to a diamond now. You win with the ace, cross to a
trump and lead the jack of hearts. It makes no difference whether East
covers. If he does, you will ruff and return to the ace of clubs to
throw a club. If he chooses not to, you will throw a club immediately.
In either case you will eventually ruff a diamond in dummy for your
ninth trick. The technique in hearts is known as a ‘ruffing finesse’.
Would a club lead have beaten the contract, do you think? You can
still succeed, provided you duck the first round of clubs to break the
defenders’ communications. You will then win the club continuation,
draw trumps, and run the nine of hearts. Again an eventual ruffing
finesse will allow you to discard a club closer.
 What
would you say now on the West cards?
Answer
Suppose you pass, happy
with the contract of 1NT doubled, and North removes to 2S. You will
have no good bid available on the next round. A better idea is to
redouble. This tells your partner that your side holds a good majority
of the points. He may then be able to double a retreat to 2S. A raise
to 2NT would be pointless when you are already doubled in 1NT. Awards:
Redouble-10, Pass-6, 2NT-3, 2H/2D-2.
David Bird
— Knight Features
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