Phillip Alder Bridge

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Real lessons from the real world

North

	A 7 5 4
	J 3
	Q 8 6 3
	9 7 2

West

	Q 8 2
	A 10 8 7
	J 5
	A K Q 5

East

	J
	9 6 5 2
	10 9 7 2
	10 6 4 3

South

	K 10 9 6 3
	K Q 4
	A K 4
	J 8

Dealer: North
Vulnerable: North-South

South	West	North	East
		Pass	Pass
1	1NT	2	Pass
4	Pass	Pass	Pass

Opening lead:

     This week we are looking at deals that occurred during social games and tournaments.
     This layout arose at a Swiss Team event held a month ago in St. Louis. How should South plan the play in four spades? West leads the club ace, cashes the club king, and continues with the club queen.
     Some players would open that South hand with one notrump. This has the big advantage of describing the balanced nature of the hand and its high-card strength. It would also be easier to find a 5-3 heart fit. After a one-spade opening, North might be forced to respond one notrump, not being strong enough to respond at the two-level. However, opening one notrump would make it difficult — impossible? — to find a 5-3 spade fit (unless you use Puppet Stayman, which asks first for a five-card major).
     West had a borderline one-notrump overcall facing a passed partner and holding such a weak spade stopper. But he did not want to pass with 16 points or to double with only two diamonds.
     South's jump to four spades was aggressive, but it pays to bid like that in team events.
     Declarer had three top losers: one heart and two clubs. So he had to play the trump suit without loss. If the opponents had been silent, he would have had to guess well, but West's overcall gave the game away. After ruffing West's club queen at trick three, South cashed his spade king, hoping East would have a singleton jack. And when he did, declarer ran the spade ten through West to make his contract.