GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

Lifestyle

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE CHANGES IN POLICY: Commenters are required to have a username with a valid and verified email address. Gloucestertimes.com reserves the right to ban the IP address of any commenter (person) found using multiple aliases under multiple e-mail addresses in a deceptive manner. Posts that do not meet site standards, which can be found here, will be removed.


If you are experiencing problems logging in or posting comments, please contact Disqus' help center by clicking here.
comments powered by Disqus
May 9, 2012

Bridge: Losers do not take care of themselves

BRIDGE Phillip Alder

Denis Waitley, a motivational speaker, said, "Losers live in the past. Winners learn from the past and enjoy working in the present toward the future."

At the bridge table, losers do not go away. You may hope they disappear, but unless you do something to eliminate them, they will hang around, ready to defeat you.

In this deal, how should South play in four spades after West leads the club queen?

The bidding had a modern tinge to it. North's two-club cue-bid showed game-invitational values with spade support. South happily jumped to game.

Start by counting losers. Here, South has one club, one diamond, one heart and (perhaps) one spade. Next, count winners. There are 10: four spades, two hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. So declarer has the wherewithal to make his contract if he can avoid losing four tricks first.

South could rely on the spade finesse. However, how likely is that to win? There are only 14 high-card points missing; surely West has the spade king. And if he does, how can declarer reduce his loser count by one?

He needs to look at the side suits with more cards in one hand than in the other — here, hearts. South can discard his club loser on the third round of hearts. But he must be careful, because West might duck the first round of hearts and capture the second before leading another club.

South must take the first trick with his club ace, cash the spade ace and drive out the heart ace. He takes the next club trick on the board, pitches his club loser and plays a second trump.

******

COPYRIGHT: 2012, UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE

North05-09-12

SPADES J 9 6 5

HEARTS K J 7

DIAMONDS K 8 3

CLUBS K 4 2

WestEast

SPADES K 2SPADES 8 3

HEARTS A 6 5 3HEARTS 9 8 4 2

DIAMONDS A 6 4DIAMONDS 10 9 7 2

CLUBS Q J 10 9CLUBS 8 5 3

South

SPADES A Q 10 7 4

HEARTS Q 10

DIAMONDS Q J 5

CLUBS A 7 6

Dealer: West

Vulnerable: Both

SouthWestNorthEast

1 CLUBSPassPass

1 SPADESPass2 CLUBSPass

4 SPADESPassPassPass

Opening lead: CLUBS Q

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Lifestyle

Your news, your way
Pictures of the Week
Comments Tracker
AP Entertainment Videos
ShowBiz Minute: Shelton, King, Lopez Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage ShowBiz Minute: Pickler, Franklin, Potter ShowBiz Minute: Manzarek, Keith, Bieber $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Beckham to Retire From Soccer at End of Season ABC Stars React to Jolie News ShowBiz Minute: Jolie Reax, Dr Dre, Richie Jolie Genetic Cancer Risk High but Rare ShowBiz Minute: Jolie, Jackson, 24 Beatles Guitar May Fetch $300,000 at Auction Raw from 'The View': Barbara Walters to Retire Cooper's 'Hangover' Is a Career Changer Raw: Prince Harry in Colo. for Wounded Vet Games ShowBiz Minute: Jackson, Jackson, PSY Kris Kross Rapper Chris Kelly Laid to Rest Broadway's 'Matilda' Cast Chats With Astronaut "The Office" Forever Linked to Scranton, Pa. ShowBiz Minute: Hill, Bieber, Clinton Beyonce Gets Emotional in 'Epic'