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: Good play in four suits wins contract Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 15:30:30 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN;COMICS;BRIDGE \HD Good play in four suits wins contract \BY Stephen Goldstein \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES West led the six of spades. Try every option you can to develop an extra trick. South had limited resources but he stretched them to the fullest to land his close game on today's deal from a recent sectional tournament. South opened one no-trump, showing between 15 and 17 high card points. North invited with two no-trump on his eight high card points and a five-card diamond suit. Despite having only 15 high card points, South accepted the invitation because of his good spot cards and three aces, which are undervalued in the point count. West led a spade, covered by the 10 and jack and won by declarer's ace. South led a diamond to dummy's king as West's jack fell. He led a diamond, finessing the 10 successfully as West threw a spade. The ace of diamonds was cashed as West threw another spade. South led a club to dummy's queen, losing to East's king. East returned a heart, which declarer won with his king. South cashed his two diamond winners and his two black suit tricks to make the contract. Declarer played well in every suit. He correctly won the first spade trick because a heart shift could be troublesome. After West's jack of diamonds fell, he correctly finessed against East's queen, reasoning that East was nearly twice as likely to have the queen of diamonds as West because West might have played the queen of diamonds on the first round if he had both honors. Next, declarer wisely led a club toward dummy's queen. If West had the king of clubs, the queen would be established for the ninth trick; while if East had the king, declarer might still be able to make his contract if East also had the ace of hearts. Finally, declarer jumped up with the king of hearts when East led the suit. Ducking might enable the defenders to set up five tricks before declarer could get his king of hearts. 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