Bridge

THIS is defensive problem from the East seat. South has opened a 15-17 point 1NT and is now playing in 3NT. How would you plan the defence when your partner leads the three of clubs? The lead of a low spot card promises as honour. You can see the two of clubs, so partner must have led from K-x-x-x. Four club tricks will be a good start for the defence but where will the setting trick come from? There are only 20 points in the two closed hands and you have already placed West with the club king. The only honour card he can hold in addition is the jack of hearts. Declarer has eight top tricks in the suits outside clubs and will rely on the diamond suit to carry him past the finishing line. How can you persuade him to mis-guess in diamonds? You should win the first trick with the ace of clubs and continue with the club queen. At Trick 3 you switch to the ten of hearts, pretending that you have no clubs left. If declarer believes you, he will take the diamond finesse into your hand. Even if the finesse loses, he will still be safe if you have no club to return. You will, of course, disillusion him by producing an unexpected two of clubs. Four club tricks and one diamond trick will put the game one down.

What will you rebid on the West cards?

Answer
With an 8-card suit, a rebid of 3C is somewhat of an underbid. It describes the hand fairily well, however, and is the best rebid available. It is usually better to choose a descriptive bid rather than introduce an artificiality (such as 2H here). Rebidding 3NT or 5C would be a gamble and a rebid of 4C would carry you past 3NT.

Awards: 3C – 10, 4C – 7, 5C – 6, 3NT – 4, 2H – 3.

David Bird — Knight Features

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