Duplicate bridge has returned to the Vineyard after a two-year absence owing to Covid. Games are now scheduled through Labor Day for Thursdays at 1:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m., both in the Vineyard Haven Senior Center. Please check the attached box for reservation requirements.
We began the season on June 30,with six tables ably directed by Eric Stricoff. As is the case in every bridge game, there was much to talk about in the play.
On Board 24 West was dealing, with no one vulnerable:
NORTH
♠️ 9
♥️ A 7 5 2
♦️ A J 4 2
♣️ A 8 5 3
WEST EAST
♠️ J 10 ♠️ Q 7 4 2
♥️ K Q 8 3 ♥️ J 10 3
♦️ 8 ♦️ 10 7 6 5 3
♣️ J 10 9 7 4 2 ♣️ Q
SOUTH
♠️ A K 8 5
♥️ 9 6 4
♦️ K Q 9
♣️ K J 10
The bidding proceeded as follows:
West North East South
Pass 1♦️ Pass 1♠️
Pass 2♣️ Pass 3♦️
All Pass
Opening lead: ♠️A
North-South made 3♦️ for +110, but other declarers bid and made 3NT. How to get there?
Virtually any time an opener sits opposite an opener, players want to reach game. With 16 HCP, South longed for game but couldn’t bid 3NT without a heart stopper. Instead South bid a non-forcing 3♦️.
Enter “fourth-suit forcing.” By bidding an artificial and game-forcing 2♥️, South wouldn’t show hearts but would ask for more information from North. With ace-fourth in hearts, North would have bid 2NT, raised to 3NT by South. So a proper auction would proceed as follows:
West North East South
Pass 1♦️ Pass 1♠️
Pass 2♣️ Pass 2♥️
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
All Pass
It was great to be playing again at the senior center, not only for the bridge but also for the chance to renew old friendships and make new friends.
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