February 2005

THE NOTRUMP IMPERATIVE

This hand was presented in a recent “Bridge Club” bridge column.

                                              N) 10 6 4
                                              H) A 6
                                              D) A J 4 3
                                              C) Q 9 7 3

N) K 9 8 3                                                                         N) Q 7 5
H) K Q 9 3 2                                                                      H) J 8 7 5 4
D) 9 6                                                                                 D) Q 10 8 7
C) 10 4                                                                               C) J


                                              N) A J 2
                                              H) 10
                                              D) K 5 2
                                              C) A K 8 6 5 2

It is not difficult for North-South to arrive at a five-club contract.  The thrust of the article was how South can take 11 tricks against any defense.  Hint: after drawing trump and playing the ace and king of diamonds, put the defense into the lead with the heart six, discarding the last diamond from hand.

The deal is much easier to play (10 quick tricks) and scores better in three notrump.  The notrump game is easy to play but difficult to bid.  Here is one way to find it.

SOUTH        NORTH
1 C              1 D
3 C              3 H
3 NT

South’s jump shows very good clubs and better than average opener.  Even with a good club fit, North tests for notrump by showing a heart stopper.  South gets the hint and bids three notrump.

QUICK TIP

“Always plan a second bid before you make your first.”

A READER ASKS
 

“When should you declare honors?”

I suspect most rubber bridge players have wondered about this at some time or another.  There doesn’t seem to be an obvious answer so I looked to the rule book - but alas no help.  Since the rules are silent, let’s look to the intent of some other rules for guidance.  There is no penalty for an exposed card by the declarer, but there is for a defender - because declarer cannot gain but a defender can gain by seeing partner’s card.  Applying the same logic here, since declarer cannot gain we may conclude that he may declare honors before playing the hand or when play is complete, or any time in between.

There are extremely rare instances where the defenders have honors.  Applying the same logic, we must conclude that it would be highly improper for a defender to declare honors before play is complete because his partner could easily benefit from such information.   There is however a rule about crediting honors late.  If you forget to announce and score honors, Law 78 allows the score to be corrected (majority of the players agreeing) any time before the rubber is completed and the total rubber scores agreed upon.

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