Bridge Corner (July 21, 2006)
By Gary Mitchell



The bidding

What do they call a seven- or eight-card major suit? TRUMP! South is just bidding what looks like a reasonable contract.


The play

So, without a lot of thought, you win the opening Club lead in your hand, play a Heart to the King, a Club back to your hand and pull trump. Great! What now? You have 3 Diamond losers (barring a miracle) and a Spade loser. There are two combinations of cards you never want to have to play yourself—if possible. They are: Qxx opposite Jxx, and Kxx opposite Jxx. You always want the opponents to play that kind of suit for you, if possible. Also, on this hand, playing as described, how do you get to use the Club suit? You cannot get there! 

The better play is to win the Club lead in hand and play the Ace and Queen of Hearts. I promise—it only hurts for a little while. If the Jack drops, pull the last trump, overtake the Club, pitch a Spade on the good Club. You can now only lose three Diamonds. If the Jack of Hearts does not fall, now play on Clubs. If they are 3-3, you will get to discard a Spade and a Diamond before the opponents can trump. If all of that fails, you will still make the hand if you find that miraculous holding in the Diamond suit. 

Questions: gary@smabridge.com 
Lessons: 152-6351.