October 2002

LEADING

You are dealt this hand:

      S)  x x x x
      H)  A x x x
      D)  Q x
      C)  x x x

Partner opens 1 diamond, you respond 1 heart. Next, partner says 2 clubs, opponents passing. So far the bidding is:

      PARTNER        YOU
      1 diamond          1 heart
      2 clubs                ??

It is your turn to bid. You have only two choices, either pass partner's 2 clubs or bid 2 diamonds, because you are too weak to bid anything else. The normal choice is to put partner back into his first suit; bid 2 diamonds.

Make you nervous? Relax, you have a rational and competent partner who would not force you into this uncomfortable situation without good reason. That good reason is: he has a hand full of diamonds and clubs, and he is willing to play a contract in 2 diamonds or 2 clubs. That is how you know he has at least 5 good diamonds and four good clubs.

You are in 3NT and your diamonds are:

      YOU                DUMMY
      D)  Q 10 x        D)  A K 9 x x x

You need 5 diamond tricks. How do you play this suit?

There are 4 diamonds outstanding. Play the ace first. If both defenders follow suit, you can easily draw the remaining diamonds. However if one defender shows out, you can finesse the other for the jack and run the suit.

FOR THE HUMOR

To conclude a heated auction, the expert makes a forceful 3 spade bid which his LHO (left hand opponent) doubles and everyone else passes.

The expert looks at LHO and says: "Do you know who I am?"

LHO says: "Yes, I know who you are."

The expert says: "Do you know how many masterpoints I have?"

LHO says: "No, but do you know how many spades I have?"

BridgeSnaps newsletter is produced by John S. Thomas, author of Standard American 21.