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: Guessing works only as last resort Date: Thu, 29 Oct 92 14:38:17 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN;COMICS;BRIDGE \HD Guessing works only as last resort \BY Stephen Goldstein \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES West led the six of clubs. Use all possibilities to avoid a guess. South knew the heart suit would present a problem so he tried to set up winners in the minor suits first to bypass the choice. South's two-no-trump opening showed his balanced 21 high-card points. North bid three hearts, a transfer to spades, showing at least five cards in that suit. South's four-diamond response showed concentrated strength in that suit with a fit for spades. North cue bid the king of hearts to show slam interest. South then bid four no-trump to check on aces. When North showed no ace by bidding five clubs, South settled for a small slam. West led a club to East's king, won by declarer's ace. South cashed the ace and king of diamonds, throwing dummy's losing club. The jack of clubs was covered by West's queen as dummy ruffed. South led a trump to his king. He ruffed a diamond with dummy's 10 of spades. The queen of spades was cashed and a spade led to declarer's ace. Th 10 of clubs, the queen of diamonds, and declarer's fifth diamond provided three heart discards from dummy. West won his ace of hearts but dummy took the last trick with a trump to make the contract. Had diamonds split five-two or West not covered the jack of clubs, declarer would have been forced to guess how to play the heart suit. By establishing three discards, however, he made the contract without a heart trick. West might have chosen a heart as his opening lead because it appeared that all suits were splitting well for declarer. Cashing the ace of hearts, hoping to give partner a ruff would probably have been the superior move. However, this would have immediately solved declarer's problem. 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