The road to success has many places where you can stop and park. Bridge is like any hunt; success depends on how much effort you invest. Good technique comes from study and practice.
In today’s deal, West leads one trump against four spades. Suppose declarer wins his hand and leads a diamond, hoping to flush his third diamond in dummy. West wins, leads a trump, wins the next diamond, and leads his last trump. No diamond ring in dummy.
GOOD HEART
South needs a backup plan. After winning the first trump, he takes the AK of hearts and can then let in a diamond. If West leads a trump, South wins in dummy and beats a heart. When the suit breaks 3-3, he draws the missing trump in dummy and hits a diamond and a club on the good hearts. Make five.
The defense can change plans. When West wins the first diamond, he can lead two more diamonds, forcing dummy to ruff and removing the entrance to the good hearts. That defense saves an over trick, but South still makes his play.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: SAK 2 H 7 6 4 3 2 D 8 4 C 7 5 4. Your partner opens a diamond, you call a heart and he raises to three hearts. What are you saying?
ANSWER: Do not be discouraged by your thin hearts; you have five of them and your partner promises good support for four cards. You only have seven high cards, but they are the best. Invite four hearts. If partner has a typical minimum hand like 43,AK95,AKJ32,32, you can get an overtrick.
Southern Dealer
NS vulnerable
NORTH
THING 2
H 7 6 4 3 2
D 8 4
C 7 5 4
WEST
S 9 8 7
HQ 9 8
DAQ 10 5
CQ 10 3
EAST
S 5 3
HJ 10 5
DKJ 7 3
CJ 9 8 2
SOUTH
SQJ 10 6 4
HAK
D 9 6 2
CAK 6
Southwest Northeast
1 S Pass 2 S Pass
4S All Pass
Opening line — S 9
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