THIS interesting hand from a Friday morning session showed just how luck and judgment can influence the scores [dealer North, neither vulnerable]:
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- North: S Q9, H J732, D 75, C 86532
- East: S A76432, H K8, D KJ, C Q107
- South: S 108, H AQ1065, D 109842, C 9
- West: S KJ5, H 94, D AQ63, C AKJ4
South will pass, and if the E/W pair is playing a 15-17 NT, West will open either 1C or 1D and so East will end up playing the hand, probably in Spades, or possibly in no trumps.
This means the lead will come from South and the HK will be safe, and both denominations will be able to take 12 tricks, providing declarer plays for the spades to drop.
The experts say that when holding a six-card major opposite a no trump opening, it is best to play in the major suit as it will usually make one extra trick.
After East answers 1S, the bidding will probably go 2NT by West showing 18-19 points and East with 13 points may go looking for the slam.
In fact, no pair did bid a slam but 12 or 13 tricks were made four times.
If the E/W pair are playing a 15-18 NT, West will open 1NT. East will transfer to spades and will, unless getting a lucky lead, no longer be able to make slam.
What is more important, with the likely H2 lead, is they will no longer be able to make even 3NT.
Usually after East transfers to Spades, he will either pass if weak, bid 2NT or 3NT with five spades and 3S or 4S if he has six, according to his hand.
But bridge is also a game where the expert player will often win by judging when he should make what is called an anti-percentage bid. This is especially true playing pairs.
Here East with an opening hand and six spades could feel that with his extra points, but not knowing his partner has the maximum point count of 18, that he will try for game in no trumps.
Often he will be right, but because he has six spades, he is obviously short suited in something.
As most players now open no trump with a worthless (no honours) doubleton, there is always the possibility that his short suit could be the same as the no trump opener.
This is what happened here, and my partner led the H2 and we took the first five tricks. Sorry partner, wrong choice on this hand.
Yuletide fun
THE club is holding a free Christmas in July lunch and game on Saturday, July 8.
At the moment there are not enough players so if you would like to come, please put your names down or let the committee know before next Wednesday or it will be cancelled.
