Bridge

North’s 3H was a transfer bid, showing at least five spades. South would normally rebid just 3S, which North could pass if he was very weak. Here South ‘broke the transfer’ to show exceptional spade support and North was then happy to bid a slam. How would you play 6S when West leads a trump? Declarer won the trump lead and drew the outstanding trumps with a second round of the suit. He then played the king and queen of clubs, both defenders following. There were several chances of making the contract. Suppose declarer were to play a club to the ace. He would make the contract if the jack fell from West. If West showed out, there would still be time to take both red-suit finesses. As the cards lie, all there shots would fail and the slam would go one down. Declarer spotted a better idea. On the third round of clubs he finessed the ten. As it happened, the finesse won and twelve tricks were his immediately. If the finesse had lost to a bare jack of clubs, West would have been end-played. He would have had to return a red suit into one of South’s tenaces and that would give declarer a twelfth trick. What if East had shown out on the third round of clubs? Declarer would rise with the club ace and exit to West’s jack on the fourth round of the suit. Again West would have to lead one of the red suis.

Answer

You may think that 2D will be a better contract than 2C. Even so, you should not bid 2D because this would be a constructive move, suggesting to partner that you might have a game your way. It is much more useful for a change of suit to be constructive, rather than a rescue. AWARDS: Pass-10, 2D-6.

David Bird — Knight Features

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