Bridge

South’s 4H may look somewhat wild, over East’s 12-14 INT, but the hand is difficult to express. You could start with a double, or bid 3H. The trouble with the latter call is that partner will have no idea that the club queen is a good card and the red-suit kings are valueless. Anyway, how would you play Four Hearts doubled when West Launches the defence with ace and another diamond? The original declarer ruffed East’s king of diamonds at Trick 2 and played two top trumps, leaving a master trump at large. His next move was to lay down the ace of clubs. Not the best! East claimed two club tricks on the club continuation and there was still a trump trick to lose. That was one down. It was a weak effort by the declarer. Before playing on clubs, he should have played another trump to discover who holds the queen of the suit. When West shows up with this card, he is known to have started with seven points. The remaining points, in particular the king and queen of clubs, must lie with east. Declarer uses his one entry to dummy, the spade ace, to lead a club towards his hand. If East declines to split his honours, a finesse of the jack will win. With only one club trick to be lost, the doubled game is made. Most of world’s declarer cannot be bothered to count the hand — either the points or the shape. Become ‘one of the few’ and you will shoot ahead of them!

Traditionally, a INT response opposite IC shows about 8-10 points. If instead you held 6-7 points, with a shape such as 3-3-3-4, you would raise to 2C instead. On this basis you are worth bidding game. Partner cannot hold four spades, so there is little point in showing your spade suit.

AWARDS: 3 NT - 10, 2S - 6, 2 NT - 5, 3C - 4, 3S/2C - 2.

David Bird — Knight Features

HOME