Eric Stricoff used inspired deductive reasoning to tie for a top board on August 23 at the Island Bridge Club. He was sitting East, with West dealing and East-West vulnerable, on board 16:

NORTH

♠ J 7 6

♥ 6 5

♦ A 6

♣ Q 9 6 4 3 2

WEST                 EAST

♠ 10                    ♠A 9 8 4

♥ A K 9 8 7 4     ♥ Q 3 2

♦ 9 7 2                ♦ J 8 4 3

♣ K 10 8             ♣ A 7

SOUTH

♠ K Q 5 3 2

♥ J 10

♦ K Q 10 5

♣ J 5

The bidding proceeded as follows:

West         North         East         South

2 ♥ *        Pass           2NT **    Pass

3♣ ***     Pass           4 ♥          All Pass

* Weak two-bid showing two of the top three hearts and 5-10 high-card points

** Asks if West has an outside ace or king

*** Shows club king

Opening lead: club 4

Most players wouldn’t probe a game contract with the East hand. If they bid at all, they’d raise 2

♥ to 3 ♥.

Not Stricoff, who has been studying bridge percentages: “I knew you had the heart ace-king in our system, and I figured that if you had the club king, you’d have six heart tricks, two clubs, a club ruff and the spade ace.”

That’s exactly what happened. To their credit, two other partnerships among the six East-West pairs bid and made 4♥. Strong field!

Two days later, in the American Bridge Association game at the Tisbury Council on Aging, you hold these South cards with North dealing and both sides vulnerable on Board 13:

♠ K 10 9 5

♥ 9 7 3 2

♦ 9 6 2

♣ J 4

North bids 1♣, and East passes. What do you bid?

Players don’t like passing after partner bids 1♣, and it’s understandable up to a point. You don’t want to be in a five-card trump fit. On the other hand, any bid would show at least six high-card points. Better to pass rather than misinform partner.

Sitting West, with East dealing and North-South vulnerable on Board 18, you hold:

♠ K Q J 10 8 7 4 3 2

♥ —

♦ 9 7 3

♣ 9

After two passes, what do you bid?

Points schmoints. With nine spades and eight certain tricks, bid 4♠.