Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Try no-trump opening with 6-card minor Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 16:10:35 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN;COMICS;BRIDGE \HD Try no-trump opening with 6-card minor \BY Stephen Goldstein \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES West led the queen of spades. With values in one's short suits, it often pays to open one no-trump with a six-card minor. The hand can thus be described in one bid, and partner can move more easily toward game. South opened one no-trump on his 15 high card points because he wanted to protect his honors and conceal his six-card diamond suit. North's two-club response asked South to show a four-card major. South's two-diamond response denied a major suit, so North invited game in no-trump, which South accepted because of his long diamond suit. West led the queen of spades, which declarer allowed to win. West continued with the 10 of spades, which East overtook with his king as declarer won his ace. South ran off his six-card diamond suit as West pitched two hearts and two clubs. Dummy threw three clubs while East threw four clubs. Declarer led the queen of hearts, which he passed. The jack of hearts was covered by the king and won by dummy's ace for the ninth trick. The defenders had the last four tricks. Declarer played correctly, ensuring himself of at least seven tricks regardless of the location of heart and club honors. By forcing his opponents to discard, he had some chance of making them reveal the location of their honors. South could have made a 10th trick as the cards lay, by holding up his ace for two rounds of spades, then leading up to his king of clubs. But he feared that East would shift to a club through his king, defeating the contract several tricks if the ace were offside. South also knew he was in a good contract, so he played safe to make his game. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM