Trumps Bridge Centre

Beating the experts

Wednesday nights at Trumps are streamed into two sections. The advanced game usually offers the option to stay for analysis of interesting deals at the end of the session, and one or more experts are usually playing. On the hand below, one of the experts pointed out that he had allowed 4H to make – but one of the other players, Alex Cook (playing with Robin Ho), found the defence to shoot the contract.  

Dealer North, NS vul.

          NORTH
          ♠ 75432
          ♥ 84
          ♦ KT73
          ♣ J8
WEST                EAST          
♠ J6                ♠ AKQT8      
♥ A762              ♥ Q953
♦ J942              ♦ 5
♣ 653               ♣ AK9
          SOUTH
          ♠ 9
          ♥ KJT
          ♦ AQ86
          ♣ QT742

WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH
       Ho             Cook   
       Pass    1S     Dble
1NT    Pass    3H     Pass
4H     All pass

The 3H bid from East, being a jump shift by opener, is forcing to game and shows about 19+ points. West raised to show the fit.

Cook started on the right footing with a low club lead; with such a good trump holding, it would be poor to lead the singleton spade because there is nothing to gain by ruffing. On the club lead, North properly played “third hand high”, losing to the CA.

Declarer next played the HA (with Cook contributing the H10), then a low heart to the H9, losing to the HJ. What should South do next?

Read more: Beating the experts

Hands that make the difference

A common format of a Sydney teams congress is to play seven matches, each of eight boards. A fair degree of match fitness is required to maintain concentration throughout the day, and retain focus for those hands that can make a big difference. Here is one of those hands:  

Dealer South, NS vul.

          NORTH
          ♠ 8654
          ♥ 76
          ♦ A52
          ♣ T932
WEST               EAST          
♠ QT7              ♠ AJ      
♥ AK832            ♥ QJ54  
♦ —                ♦ KJ8643
♣ Q8765            ♣ A
         SOUTH
         ♠ K932
         ♥ T9
         ♦ QT97
         ♣ KJ4

WEST       EAST
1H         2NT*  
3D*        4C*
4D*        4NT*
5H*        6H
All pass

Read more: Hands that make the difference

“Drop dead” lives on

Most players are aware that after partner opens 1NT, it is possible for responder to perform a rescue operation to a long suit, as South might do with this hand:

SOUTH
♠ Q8643
♥ 52
♦ 32
♣ 9852

NORTH      SOUTH
1NT        ?

Read more: “Drop dead” lives on

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