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Show BETTER BRIDGE Neither side Is vulnerable. South deals. NORTH A A 76 4 K 10 6 S J 9 8 WEST EAST ' A 0 3 2 4QJ10 54 V 8 5 4 2 V A 8 6 Q 7 S J 8 2 K 5 4 76 SOUTH A K 8 J 10 7 4 A 9 4 4 A Q 10 3 2 . The bidding: South West North East 1 club Pass 2 NT Pass S NT Pass Pass Pass Opening lead: Queen of spades. Today's hand we have seen many times before, dressed in perhaps slightly different garments. It deals with the problem of deciding which suit to attack first as declarer de-clarer at no trump. The general proposition' that the longest suit should be developed first is in most cases sound, but it la subservient to the prime purpose of the hand, which is obtaining nine tricks before be-fore the opposition gathers in five. Sometimes a shorter suit will more surely yield the required tricks than one of greater length. The bidding was quite normal. North's response of two no trump I think is the best choice. Inasmuch Inas-much as he is determined to play the hand at a game contract, little is to be gained by temporizing with a one over one response in diamonds. The queen of spades was opened and taken by the king. Declarer led. a diamond to the king and took the club finesse, which lost. Spades were continued and declarer de-clarer held up to the third round. Since only eight tricks were available, avail-able, a heart trick had to be built up, so declarer led that suit with a prayer that West held the ace, but East got in and cashed the setting tricks. Declarer had played badly in going for his longest suit first. He could have insured the contract against any holding by a very simple play. At the second trick he should lead a heart, his shortest suit If the king is permitted per-mitted to hold the trick, the club finesse is taken immediately and nine tricks are assured even If it loses. - If East takes the ace of hearts and continues spades, declarer de-clarer will take his ace on the third round, and attack the club I suit in perfect confidence. If West has another spade it will mean that East had only four originally. If he has no more spades, school is out The moral is: When someone is trying to establish a long suit against you. your best plan Is to first take his entry away from him and then he cannot use the long suit against you. The king of clubs would not be an entry for East even if he had it The ace of hearts would. I Copyright 1948, by C. H. Goren. I |