Go for two chances, not just one

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April 25, 2012

Go for two chances, not just one

BRIDGE Phillip Alder The Gloucester Daily Times Wed Apr 25, 2012, 12:17 AM EDT

The bridge world is divided into two classes, those who believe in analyzing a deal fully, and those who do the obvious.

In this deal, the first group would do much better than the second. How should the play go in three no-trump after West leads the spade queen to South's king?

North used Stayman to try to find a 4-4 heart fit, then settled for the nine-trick game. Although here five diamonds would have made, why force yourself to have to win 11 tricks for the game bonus when nine will suffice?

South starts with eight top tricks: two spades, two hearts, three diamonds and one club.

The obvious place to go for a ninth winner is the diamond suit. This requires only a 3-2 split, which the mathematicians will tell you occurs 67.8 percent of the time. And some players would immediately attack that suit, going down when it breaks 4-1.

There is a second chance: hearts 3-3. Admittedly, that is only a 35.53 percent shot, but it does not hurt to give it a try, keeping diamonds on the back burner. At trick two, declarer should duck a heart. He wins the next spade and cashes his top hearts. When they are 3-3, he is trying diamonds for overtricks. But if hearts prove to be 4-2 or worse, the diamond suit is still available.

The chance of success has risen to 79.24 percent.

******

North04-25-12

SPADES 7 4

HEARTS 9 6 5 2

DIAMONDS A K 6 5 3 2

CLUBS 4

WestEast

SPADES Q J 10 9 8SPADES 6 5 2

HEARTS 10 8 7HEARTS Q J 3

DIAMONDS 4DIAMONDS J 10 9 8

CLUBS K J 10 9CLUBS Q 6 3