December 2002

****** HAPPY HOLIDAYS ******

HANDLING 3NT

You are declarer and these are your diamond assets:

YOU               DUMMY
D)  J 10 9        D)  K 4 3 2

The contract is 3 NT and you have 8 other tricks and need one diamond trick. How should you play this suit?

If you have time to develop the suit, the play is not critical because you have one sure winner even if you lose to both the ace and queen.

However the preferred play under most circumstances is to lead the jack from your hand. The jack is much more likely than the 9 or 10 to attract the queen from LHO if he has it.

With luck, the first trick may pull the J-Q-K-A, giving you two sure tricks and maybe a third if the suit splits 3-3.

If you need one quick trick from this suit and LHO plays low to your jack, play the king from dummy. It is a reasonable assumption that if LHO plays low he does not have the queen, but he may have the ace.

POINTS

Count you winners, then count your losers. If the combined total is not 13, count your cards!

This is your hand:
    S)  10 8 2
    H)  Q J 3
    D)  Q 8
    C)  K 7 6 4 3

Partner opens 1 diamond. How do you respond?

You should always have at least 10 points to respond at the two level, and this hand does not meet that requirement so a 2 club bid is out. On the other hand, with 8 points you certainly should bid something. Bid 1 NT, it is the only option available.

"Grand slams in the new year to all, and to all a good night. HO-HO-HO" - anon

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