Polish star Jacek Kalita has established himself as one of the world’s best players. He was East in today’s deal, where South made a reasonable overcall and ran into murderous defense.South ducked the
Keith Hanson, of Boca Raton, Florida, has been one of America’s premier bridge teachers for more than three decades. He teaches bridge all over South Florida, but his center is Jourdan’s Bridge Club i
Neither vulnerable, North deals
South bid four clubs in case partner had supported spades with only three-card support. He was happy to hear North go back to spades.
Declarer will often play a hand in sequential order one suit at a time. The defence may resolve one or two suits for declarer, but then the declarer will have to handle the rest. West saw a discouraging card from partner on the opening diamond lead, so he switched to the ace of hearts and saw another discouraging card. West continued safely with a heart to let South resolve the other two suits for himself.
Both vulnerable, South deals
North’s four diamond bid clearly showed a heart fit, as he would have bid differently earlier if he had a spade fit or a long diamond suit.
Many declarers would have gone wrong on this deal by trying to ruff one or two minor suit cards in their hand. The 5-1 spade split would have wrecked the contract eventually. This is all a mirage, as this contract is a sure thing after a diamond lead, provided the trumps split no worse than 3-2. Can you see the winning line?
Win the opening diamond lead in dummy and draw trumps in three rounds, ending in dummy. Then simply run the 10 of spades. This will lose to the jack, but declarer will have no trouble taking four spade tricks and eventually ruffing a club in dummy.