The road to success has many spots where you can pull over and park. Bridge is like any pursuit; success depends on how much effort you invest. Good technique comes from study and practice.
In today’s deal, West leads a trump against four spades. Suppose declarer wins in his hand and leads a diamond, hoping to ruff his third diamond in dummy. West wins, leads a trump, wins the next diamond and leads his last trump. No diamond ruff in dummy.
GOOD HEARTS
South needs a fallback plan. After winning the first trump, he takes the A-K of hearts, then might concede a diamond. If West leads a trump, South wins in dummy and ruffs a heart. When the suit breaks 3-3, he draws the missing trump in dummy and pitches a diamond and a club on the good hearts. Making five.
The defense can switch plans. When West wins the first diamond, he can lead two more diamonds, forcing dummy to ruff and removing the entry to the good hearts. That defense saves an overtrick, but South still makes his game.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A K 2 H 7 6 4 3 2 D 8 4 C 7 5 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he raises to three hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: Don’t be discouraged by your flimsy hearts; you have five of them, and your partner promises good four-card support. You have only seven high-card points, but they are the best. Bid four hearts. If partner has a typical minimum hand such as 43,AK95,AKJ32,32, you may score up an overtrick.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A K 2
H 7 6 4 3 2
D 8 4
C 7 5 4
WEST
S 9 8 7
H Q 9 8
D A Q 10 5
C Q 10 3
EAST
S 5 3
H J 10 5
D K J 7 3
C J 9 8 2
SOUTH
S Q J 10 6 4
H A K
D 9 6 2
C A K 6
South West North East
1 S Pass 2 S Pass
4 S All Pass
Opening lead — S 9
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