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
March 29, 2012

Bridge: Do not forget the auction

BRIDGE Phillip Alder

James Lee Burke, an author of mystery novels, said, "I used to save all my rejection slips in a box because I told myself that one day I was going to autograph and auction them. And then I lost the box."

Every bridge deal contains an auction that will have stamped its signature on the different players' hands. In the card play, the three active players should bear that information in mind. In this deal, declarer gains invaluable help.

South is in four spades. West leads a low heart. East wins the first trick with his king, cashes the heart ace, then shifts to a diamond. How should declarer continue?

After North's one-club opening bid and East's takeout double, South might have redoubled, showing 10-plus high-card points. If he had, then either his side would win the auction or it would make a penalty double of the opponents in the contract of their choice.

Note West's two-heart bid. It looks very aggressive with only two high-card points, but he has wonderful distribution. If East has four-card heart support and a singleton or void in clubs, a heart contract will make a lot of tricks. And note that even here, five hearts doubled goes down only two tricks.

With a club loser to come, declarer must play the trump suit without loss. Normally, he would cash the ace and king, hoping the queen will drop. Here, though, East's takeout double announced at least three-card length in each unbid suit: diamonds, hearts and spades. So, South should cash dummy's spade ace, then play a spade to his jack, a finesse that is bound to work.

******

COPYRIGHT: 2012, UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE

North03-29-12

SPADES A 7 4 3

HEARTS 9 2

DIAMONDS A 6 5

CLUBS K Q 10 9

WestEast

SPADES 10SPADES Q 9 6

HEARTS Q 10 8 5 4HEARTS A K J 7

DIAMONDS 8 3DIAMONDS 9 7 4 2

CLUBS 8 7 6 3 2CLUBS A 5

South

SPADES K J 8 5 2

HEARTS 6 3

DIAMONDS K Q J 10

CLUBS J 4

Dealer: North

Vulnerable: Both

SouthWestNorthEast

1 CLUBSDbl.

1 SPADES2 HEARTS2 SPADES3 HEARTS

4 SPADESPassPassPass

Opening lead: HEARTS 5

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'