Bridge

NORTH’s 4D is a splinter bid, showing a sound raise to 4S that includes at most one diamond. South cooperates with a cue-bid in hearts and North bids the slam via Roman Key-card Blackwood. West leads the queen of hearts and you win with the king. When you cash the ace of trumps West shows out. How will you continue? It may seem that you have one loser in each black suit. If you play correctly, you can merge the two losers into one. You begin by cashing the two red aces and the two top clubs. You then ruff a diamond and lead a heart from dummy. If Eastruffs a loser from his natural trump trick, you will throw a club and make the reminder easily on a cross-ruff (even if East returns a trump). If instead East discards, you will ruff low in your hand, ruff another diamond and lead dummy’s last heart. East is faced with the same dilemma as before. If he ruffs, you will discard your club loser. If he discards again, you will continue with your cross-ruff. The defenders will eventually take the last trick when East ruffs his partner’s club winner!

What opening bid will you make?

Answer
Some players nowadays open 2NT on 19-20 points. With 21-22 points, they begin with some other bid, such as a Multi 2D, intending to rebid 2NT. I can see little point in opening 2NT with 19 points, since you need your partner to be able to respond to a one-bid before a game will be possible. It is more sensible to play that a jump rebid of 2NT shows 18-19 points. When you do not play five-card majors it is an even choice whether you open 1H or 1C. I slightly prefer the minor-suit opening.

Awards: 1C — 10, 1H — 8, 2NT — 5.

David Bird — Knight Features

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