Bridge: Dec. 5, 2019
A club player asked if I gave private lessons.
“What are your goals?” I asked.
He said he just wanted to be competent, not a super-expert.
“How would you describe your game?”
“I’m stuck,” he said, “between ‘having it all together’ and ‘some assembly required.'”
My friend may be like many players: His fundamentals are weak and he makes avoidable errors. At today’s 3NT, South wins the first heart in dummy and leads a diamond: eight, queen, king. He wins the next heart and cashes the ace of diamonds. He goes down two when East shows out.
SAFETY PLAY
Counting your tricks is a basic skill. South is sure of three spades and two hearts; he needs only four diamonds. At Trick Two he could take the ace — a partial safety play — planning to go to dummy to return a second diamond.
But South’s correct play is to test the spades next, ending in dummy. If they broke 4-2, South would go after the diamonds. But when spades break 3-3, South assures his contract by forcing out the ace of clubs.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A Q 3 H A 4 D 9 7 5 3 2 C K J 4. Your partner opens one diamond. North in today’s deal bid three diamonds with this hand. What call would you make?
ANSWER: North meant his three diamonds as forcing, but few modern pairs treat a direct jump-raise that way. Instead, they may agree to use it as invitational or preemptive. Many pairs use “inverted” minor-suit raises and would bid two diamonds, forcing. Some would respond 2NT or 3NT.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A Q 3
H A 4
D 9 7 5 3 2
C K J 4
WEST
S 10 8 7
H Q J 10 8 3
D K J 6
C 10 5
EAST
S J 9 6
H 9 7 5 2
D 8
C A 9 8 7 2
SOUTH
S K 5 4 2
H K 6
D A Q 10 4
C Q 6 3
South West North East
1 D Pass 3 D Pass
3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — H Q
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