|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
South opens a strong 1NT and North raises directly to game, not seeing much value in Stayman when he has 4-3-3-3 shape. How will you play 3NT when West leads the seven of spades and East plays the jack? You have seven top tricks and will need to set up the diamonds to bring your total to nine. Suppose you win the first round of spades and play a diamond. East will win with the ace and will still have a spade left. He can clear the spade suit and West will cash enough spades to beat the contract when he gains the lead with the king of diamonds. To make the contracts you must hold up at Trick 1, even though you have two spade stoppers. You can then win East’s return and play on diamonds. East will have no spade to play when he wins with the diamond ace. Like many bridge writers, I check my deals with the brilliant computer program, Deep Finese. It pointed out two interesting facts about this particular deal. Firstly, West can beat the contract by leading the queen or ten of spades! If you duck that, West can switch to a club and the defenders will score one spade, two diamonds and two clubs. Secondly when the seven of spades is led, declarer must cover with dummy’s nine to ensure the contract. Otherwise East can underplay with the six, leaving West on lead for a club switch! A free demo version of Deep Finesse is available from web-site:www.deepfinesse.com Answer You expect partner to hold five spades, even if he does not guarantee them in your bidding system. You hold five trumps too, so that makes a total of ten trumps. The Law of Total Trumps says that you should be willing to bid to the ten-trick level, so bid 4S immediately. This will make life very awkward for North! AWARDS:4S-10, 3S-6, 2S-4, Redouble-2. David Bird — Knight Features
|
||
|
|
||
