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Bridge
 Playing
a weak notrump, there is rarely any need to open a prepared 1C. When you
are too strong for 1NT you can open in your four-card suit, planning to
rebid in notrumps. North could not bear to open 1S on such a feeble
suit, however, and as a result his partner declared 4S rather than him.
How would you play the hand when West leads the jack of diamonds?
Suppose you try dummy’s queen. You should now go down. East will win
with the king and switch to a low heart. West will take the 10 with his
queen and switch back to diamonds. You cannot then avoid the loss of
four tricks. A similar fate awaits if you rise with dummy’s ace of
diamonds. The only way to make the contract is to duck the first round
of diamonds, leaving West (the safe hand) on lead. East cannot overtake
with the king without setting up a second discard for you. If East
allows the jack to hold, you will win the second diamond, draw two
rounds of trumps with the ace and king, and throw your last diamond on
the third round of clubs. After ruffing dummy’s last diamond good, you
will cross to the trump 10 and play a heart to the 10. When West wins
with the queen he will be endplayed, forced to play another heart or to
concede a ruff-and-discard.
 What rebid would you
choose on the West cards?
Answer
The K-J-x in clubs has
increased in value after South’s overcall and is now worth around six
points. You have enough for game and must choose whether to play in
spades or no-trumps. I have a preference for no-trumps, since nine
tricks may be easier than ten. Also, you avoid any risk of an adverse
club ruff.
Awards: 3NT - 10, 4S - 8,
3S - 7, Double/2NT - 4, 2S - 3.
David Bird
— Knight Features
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