Article Collection 7A41 by Richard Pavlicek

Notrump Play

Counting To Avoid a Guess

The final contract is sound, and in fact superior to a slam in clubs. Why? Because in notrump declarer can postpone his guess for the queen of clubs, whereas in clubs declarer must make this decision immediately for fear of a ruff.

6 NT by South

None Vul	K Q 10 8 2 A 9 7 A 10 9 6 5
7 2 K Q J 10 7 5 4 6 3 Q 2		9 6 5 4 3 6 10 8 5 4 2 4 3
Lead: K	A J 8 A 9 3 K Q J K J 8 7

West 3 Pass All Pass

North Dbl 5

East Pass Pass

South 4 NT 6 NT

Let’s consider the play as it might have occurred at three different tables.

“Average Joe” was declarer at table one. After winning the second heart lead, he considered the play of the club suit. He had a combined holding of nine cards and, because of the bridge maxim, “eight ever; nine never,” he knew never to finesse for the queen. Therefore, Joe cashed the top clubs and made his contract. Well done.

“Thoughtful Tom” was at the wheel at table two. He also won the second heart lead and considered the play of the club suit. He knew the normal percentage play holding nine cards, but this was not a normal situation. With hearts breaking seven-one, the odds greatly favored East to hold longer clubs. Therefore, Tom led a club to dummy’s ace and finessed the jack on the way back. Oops! Down six.

“Expert Ernie” held the South cards at table three. He too won the second heart lead; but he was in no hurry to tackle the club suit. To find out more about the enemy distribution, he cashed all his winners in the other suits. Ernie learned that West began with exactly two spades and two diamonds. Combining this with the known seven-card heart suit, left West with two clubs — no more, and no less. Consequently, cashing the clubs from the top was a 100-percent guarantee.

It should be apparent that Joe’s success was lucky. Tom, of course, was unlucky. And Ernie? He didn’t need any luck.

Counting the Easy Way!

1. 4-4-3-2
2. 5-3-3-2
3. 5-4-3-1
4. 5-4-2-2
5. 4-3-3-3
6. 6-3-2-2
7. 6-4-2-1
8. 6-3-3-1
9. 5-5-2-1
10. 4-4-4-1
11. 7-3-2-1
12. 6-4-3-0
13. 5-4-4-0
14. 5-5-3-0
15. 6-5-1-1
16. 6-5-2-0
17. 7-2-2-2
18. 7-4-1-1
19. 7-4-2-0
20. 7-3-3-0

For example, say you are declarer and this is your holding in the trump suit:

	4 3 2
	A K Q 6 5

Do not count the missing trumps! Assume you cash the ace and both follow, then when you cash the king an opponent shows out. Instantly you should recognize the common 5-4-3-1 pattern as the original layout of the suit. Hence you will always have one more card than your opponent unless you or he ruffs.

Combine Your Chances

The key to successful play is to have a logical and practical mind. Try to find two or more chances, then look for a line of play that will take advantage of as many of the chances as possible. Witness this deal from a recent Swiss team event:

3 NT by South

	K 9 4 2 A 2 A Q 8 6 4 A 4
A 7 K 10 7 6 5 10 7 8 6 5 2		Q J 10 8 J 9 8 4 K J 9 9 7
Lead: 6	6 5 3 Q 3 5 3 2 K Q J 10 3

West Pass All Pass

North 1 2 NT

East Pass Pass

South 1 NT 3 NT

You breathe a sigh of relief when you win the  Q at trick one. There are eight top tricks: two hearts, one diamond and five clubs. Pretend you can’t see the E-W hands and ask yourself how you would play. Would you (1) run the clubs, (2) lead a diamond to the queen, or (3) lead a spade to the king?

First, you cannot gain a trick in clubs; you already have five. So options 2 and 3 are the only chances to make your contract. It is very important which chance you try first.

If you take the diamond finesse and it loses, a heart back will knock out your last stopper. Now you are history! The opponents can set you regardless of what you do next.

The right play is to lead a spade to the king. This wins as the cards lie. But note that if East were able to capture the  K, you would still be alive to try the diamond finesse (except in the extreme unlikelihood that East has  A-Q-J-10-x). Leading the spade first gives you two chances instead of just one.

Man’s Best Friend

“It is in my book,” North retaliated. “I have 13 points, 12 in high cards and one for distribution.”

“But you don’t have two defensive tricks! And your spot cards are all deuces — kind of like your brain. What’s your book called? Dogmeat On Bidding?”

“No, but I know what to name your book!”

3 NT by South

	Q J 4 3 2 A J 2 K J 2 4 3
A 6 5 10 9 8 6 9 5 A J 9 6		9 8 7 K 5 3 10 8 7 6 Q 8 7
Lead: 10	K 10 Q 7 4 A Q 4 3 K 10 5 2

West Pass

North 1 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

South 2 NT

When the heart finesse lost to East’s king, he wisely shifted to the  7; 10, jack; then a low club went to the queen and king. There was no hope without the spade suit, but West grabbed the first spade and took the setting tricks in clubs. Too bad.

South’s new book will be called Dogmeat On Play. The heart finesse was foolish because a club shift is obvious in view of dummy. By winning the  A and starting spades, declarer has the timing on his side and the contract is unbeatable. When West takes the  A he can put his partner in with a heart, but South simply covers any club lead to lose at most four tricks.

The underlying principle (or should I say dogma) is to consider the full layout, not just a single suit, when deciding your line of play. The heart finesse might be obvious looking at six cards, but declarer was dealt a lot more than that.

The Metz Grand

7 NT by South

	4 3 K Q J 10 9 7 Q J 10 A 2
J 7 5 8 6 5 K 5 4 3 Q 8 5		Q 9 8 6 4 3 9 7 6 2 10 9 3
Lead: 3	A K 10 2 A 2 A 8 K J 7 6 4

West Pass Pass Pass Pass

North 1 2 4 5 6

East Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

South 2 2 4 NT 5 NT 7 NT

It is apparent that 7  is a better contract because the club suit can be established with a ruff; but that would be too easy, and the Metz flair would be wasted. It is also apparent that 7 NT is impossible — declarer has 11 top tricks and both minor-suit finesses are destined to lose. Nonetheless, as baseball great Yogi Berra would say, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

West was a suspicious soul. He had seen Metz steal too many slams off the first two tricks, so he led a diamond. This converted 11 tricks into 12; and where there’s 12, Metz could usually eke out 13. He won the  Q and rapidly cashed the  A-K and both minor aces before running the hearts. On the last heart East let go a club to keep the  Q, South discarded his now useless  10, and West had to discard a club to keep the  K. Finally, a club to the king brought down the queen — and almost the ceiling — as Metz romped home.

As he left the table, Metz could be heard explaining all the intricacies of the “double squeeze and Vienna coup” to his partner.

Bold Bidding Wins

3 NT by South

	A J 5 4 A 10 8 K 4 3 10 7 2
9 6 3 Q J 6 4 Q 9 7 6 5 9		K 8 2 9 3 2 A J 10 K J 6 5
Lead: 4	Q 10 7 K 7 5 8 2 A Q 8 4 3

West Pass

North 1 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

South 2 NT

After North’s skimpy opening, Shanbrom stretched to respond 2 NT. These two slight overbids resulted in a game with only 23 points. No problem! West led a heart; eight, nine, king; then the spade queen was led to the king. East returned a heart and declarer allowed West to hold the jack.

West now could beat the contract with a diamond shift; but this was not obvious, so West returned a heart to dummy’s ace. Shanbrom led the club 10, covered by East’s king, and South ducked to keep East on lead. East could do no better than return a spade, won by 10. The club ace was led to reveal the 4-1 break, dummy’s spades were run, then the club finesse gave Shanbrom the contract — and a 10-IMP gain when the opposing team routinely played in a partscore.

There was nothing truly spectacular here, just good solid technique, which is the hallmark of Shanbrom’s success. New players may also be encouraged to learn that Shanbrom uses almost no conventions. She keeps the bidding simple, and wins where it counts.

Ten Tricks On Ice

4 NT by South

	A K 3 7 6 3 A Q 10 9 9 8 7
10 9 8 7 2 K 9 5 2 3 K 10 2		5 4 J 10 8 7 6 5 4 J 6 5 3
Lead: 10	Q J 6 A Q 4 K J 8 2 A Q 4

West Pass All Pass

North 1 3 NT

East Pass Pass

South 2 NT 4 NT

At one table declarer won the spade lead and immediately ran four rounds of diamonds, as West threw two hearts and a club. Obviously, the contract now can be made by forcing out either of West’s kings without wasting a queen. But South was not playing with mirrors, and he opted to try both finesses — down one.

At the other table declarer looked a little deeper into the problem. After West discarded on the second round of diamonds, he found a surefire play to guarantee the contract. All the spades were cashed ending in dummy, then the  9 was ducked to the 10 (if East played the  J, South would play the queen). West cashed his two long spades; North threw two hearts, and South a heart and a diamond. But now West was endplayed; either a club or a heart lead gives declarer his 10th trick.

Note the importance of cashing only two diamonds. If three rounds were cashed, declarer’s hand would be squeezed when West won his spades.

Finesse Missed

6 NT by South

None Vul	A K 4 2 A 8 A Q 7 4 3 2 2
9 6 5 Q 7 4 J 6 Q J 10 8 4		10 8 7 3 J 10 K 9 8 9 7 6 5
Lead: Q	Q J K 9 6 5 3 2 10 5 A K 3

West Pass Pass Pass

North 1 2 3 4

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

South 1 2 NT 4 6 NT

South won the club lead and had to decide which red suit to develop. Either suit required a 3-2 break, but diamonds also required a finesse; so declarer wisely chose the hearts. A heart to the ace, back to the king, then a third heart was conceded to West as North threw a diamond and East signaled with the  9.

West shifted to the  6 (clever not wasting his jack) and declarer was cooked. If he finessed he would be down immediately, so he hopped with the ace. Then he crossed to the  Q and won all the hearts and the  K. East simply kept the same last three cards as dummy, and with spades blocked declarer was down one.

It would not help to unblock spades early because that suit provides the only entry to South’s hearts. But there was a neat solution: On the first round of hearts declarer could finesse the eight — an avoidance play to prevent the killing diamond shift. Now the entries are available to cash all your tricks. Try it.

Wrong Suit First

3 NT by South

N-S Vul	J 9 7 4 K J 10 A Q 8 3 Q 5
A 10 9 6 3 9 7 2 J 9 6 4 3		K Q 8 2 8 7 5 2 K J 5 8 2
Lead: 4	6 5 3 A Q 4 10 6 4 A K 10 7

West Pass

North 1 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

South 2 NT

After winning the  10, declarer at one table led a diamond to North’s eight. This was the correct way to play diamonds, but it didn’t help. East won the  J and returned a club, won by the queen. Declarer crossed to the  Q and led a second diamond to the queen, king. East now reasoned that the only hope was to find West with the  A, so he led a low spade and the defense cashed out for down one. Unlucky. Or was it?

Not really. Declarer deserved his ill fate because he attacked the wrong suit. There was a legitimate chance to establish a spade trick, and with every other suit well protected he should try that first. The diamond finesse can wait. Leading a weak suit early also has the advantage of breaking up the enemy communication, which leads to more opportunities in the endgame.

Let’s do it right. At trick two lead a spade; 10, jack, queen; then East returns a club to the queen. Now lead a second spade, won by the ace. West does best to shift to a diamond, which you duck to the jack; then East exits safely with a heart.

The contract is now makable, though declarer must guess correctly to do so. I’ll let you work it out. It might help to lay out a deck of cards.

Timing and Control

As West, I routinely overcalled 1  then listened to my opponents breeze into game after North’s negative double. South’s 1 NT rebid was off shape, but I would surely do the same with that ugly diamond suit.

3 NT by South

E-W Vul	K Q J 2 10 8 4 3 A 2 Q J 10
10 Q J 9 7 6 Q J 10 A K 8 2		9 7 6 5 4 3 2 K 8 9 7 6 3
Lead: Q	A 8 A K 5 9 7 6 5 4 3 5 4

West 1 Pass

North Dbl 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

South 1 1 NT

My  Q lead went to the ace, and declarer played a diamond to the ace then a diamond to East’s king. On the club return I won the A-K and led a third club to remove North’s stopper. This gave declarer his eighth trick, but that’s all he could make. If he tried to set up his diamonds, I could take the setting trick in clubs.

Declarer got the timing right (it was correct to start diamonds) but he gave up his control too soon. Watch what happens if declarer ducks the first diamond. We must shift to clubs (else we won’t have a setting trick to take if declarer sets up diamonds) so assume I clear the suit as before. Declarer now runs the spades. I can part with two hearts easily, but what do I discard on the last spade? A heart or a diamond is immediately fatal, so I must throw my club. Now declarer wins the  K and leads a heart to set up the 10 as his ninth trick.

Careful study shows the diamond duck at Trick 2 is the only winning play. For instance, if declarer were to lead a club instead, West wins and leads a spade; far from obvious but it gently erodes declarer’s communication. A beautiful deal hidden in a plain wrapper.

Bridge For All Ages

Jason seemed to have the maturity and poise of a person twice his age (or four times, six times…pick one) as he earned himself a cold top on the first board.

Board 25 4 by East

E-W Vul	8 7 3 A 6 K 10 8 6 4 K Q 8
A K Q J Q J 8 7 2 J 2 10 7		9 6 10 5 4 9 7 A J 9 6 4 3
Lead: A	10 5 4 2 K 9 3 A Q 5 3 5 2

	Lynne		Jason
West Dbl	North 1 3	East Pass 4	South 2 All Pass

Most players would respond 1  with the South hand, but Jason didn’t like the quality of his spade suit. He opted to raise his mother’s diamond suit — rather keen judgment for an 11-year-old. (British author-expert Terence Reese would surely approve.)

What would you now do as West? Bill Root elected to double (as would almost any fine player). After all, who bids a minor suit over a takeout double when both majors are unbid? Gulp. North compounded the problem with a blocking bid of 3 , and I guess I should have passed. But hope springs eternal, and I came to the rescue with that beautiful 4  bid.

The defense was flawless. Jason led the ace and another diamond, then came two hearts and ruff. Down three, minus 300, and all the matchpoints to North-South.

On the next board it was Mom’s turn to shine.

Board 26 3 NT by North

Both Vul	K 7 A 10 4 A Q 10 9 8 2 10 7
4 3 K Q J 9 5 3 6 5 K 3 2		Q J 5 2 8 7 2 J 4 8 6 5 4
Lead: 2	A 10 9 8 6 6 K 7 3 A Q J 9

	Lynne		Jason
West 3	North 3 NT	East Pass All Pass	South 1

West’s 3  preempt made it difficult to reach the optimum contract of 6 , and Lynne’s 3 NT bid would be the choice of most experts. This contract was destined for a mediocre score, but she made the most of it in the play.

I led the  2 and the jack was captured with the ace. With 10 top tricks the problem was: Who has the  K? If East held it, she could win 12 easy tricks (probably 13 with a squeeze); if West held it, she does best to cash out or try for an endplay.

In expert fashion Lynne ran her diamonds then cashed both top spades ending in the North hand. West also had to guess what declarer was going to do. Was she going to cash out? Or try for an endplay? The former seemed more likely so West kept K-x in clubs. Sorry. Out came a heart and West had to surrender the last two club tricks to dummy. Winning 11 tricks salvaged a decent score.

Oh, well. Maybe we’ll run into some easier opponents in the Vanderbilt.