The Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell

The bidding explained: South’s two-Club opener promised a hand that was going to game. What kind of hand would be described later, if necessary. North’s positive response of two Spades promised at least five Spades, with at least two of the top three honors. To be perfectly honest, after learning that North had the Ace of Clubs, via the Blackwood five-Diamond response to 4NT, I would have counted five Spade tricks, and six Heart tricks and two Aces, and bid 7NT. Yes, I would have. However, this declarer only bid six Hearts. 

The Play. Declarer won the opening lead, pulled trump, then played the top Spades, got the bad news, and wound up losing two Diamond tricks. Declarer could have made his contract by playing safe in Spades and ducking one round of Spades. This loses a trick that may not have to be lost, but guarantees the contract. Is it right to play it that way? 

This is one of the major differences between duplicate and rubber (social) bridge. In duplicate bridge you should bid 7NT, assuming the Spades will break 3-2, which is how they will break most of the time. If you bid six Hearts, in duplicate you should assume a 3-2 Spade break and try to make seven. In rubber bridge, overtricks don’t matter, so the safety play in Spades should be taken.

Questions: email me at gary@smabridge.com.  Lessons: Call 152-6351.