It’s a sign of the times that some of today’s best bridge writing is on the internet. I subscribe to betterbridge.com, a daily feature that challenges readers to compare their bidding with the experts, or play a hand like one. For $9.99 a month, it’s a bargain.
Here’s a gem from premier bridge columnist Eddie Kantar. Sitting South and dealing, with no one vulnerable, you hold:
♠A J
♥K Q 7 3 2
♦A K Q
♣ J 5 4
The bidding proceeds as follows:
South West North West
2NT Pass 3♣ Pass
3♥ Pass 4 ♥ All Pass
It’s permissible to open 1NT or 2NT with a five-card major. In any case, this hand is too strong for 1 ♥ and not strong enough for the strong, artificial and forcing 2 ♣.
West leads the spade king, and you ponder your hand and the board:
NORTH
♠ 9 8 4
♥ A J 9 8
♦ 9 6
♣ Q 8 7 6
SOUTH
♠ A J
♥ K Q 7 3 2
♦A K Q
♣ J 5 4
Count your losers, Kantar advises. You’ve got one spade loser, and if you lead clubs, you may lose tricks to the ace, king and 10. That’s one loser too many. But if East-West lead clubs, you can play low, forcing them to win the ace or king and reduce your club losers to two. You have what is known as a “frozen” suit. Neither side can profitably lead it.
For declarer, success depends on getting East-West to lead clubs. How do you do it?
Win the spade ace, draw trump with the ace-king and cash three diamond winners, discarding a spade on the third one. Here’s where you stand:
NORTH
♠ 9
♥ J 9
♦—
♣ Q 8 7 6
SOUTH
♠ J
♥ Q 7 3
♦—
♣ J 5 4
Now lead a spade. After winning with the queen, West will have to lead clubs or sacrifice a ruff from North and a sluff from South. Either way, you’ve reduced your club losers to two and made the contract. This daily lesson was well worth your 33 cents. The hands:
NORTH
♠9 8 4
♥A J 9 8
♦9 6
♣Q 8 7 3
WEST EAST
♠ K Q 10 3 ♠ 7 6 5 2
♥ 10 6 ♥ 5 4
♦ 10 8 7 5 ♦ J 4 3 2
♣ A 6 2 ♣ K 10 9
SOUTH
♠ A J
♥ K Q 7 3 2
♦ A K Q
♣ J 5 4
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