The Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell, May 18, 2007

Opening Lead: Club King

The bidding explained: Opposite a Two Heart response, South does not really have the values to bid game. However, there is an expression in Bridge, “5-5, come alive.” What this basically means is that when you have a hand with two long suits, overbid your values. So, having listened to me spout this stuff, South bid four Hearts.

The play: South trumps the second Club and plays two rounds of trump, getting the bad news. So, before pulling any more trump, South wisely tries the Diamond finesse. It loses and West continues with another Club. South trumps and can no longer pull trump. Down he goes. That’s the last time I go to that guy’s classes. 5-5 come alive, what a lot of drivel he teaches! 

After getting the bad news about the trump suit, South was correct when he stopped to take the Diamond finesse. However, when it loses and another Club is played, he should not trump! The correct play is to discard a Spade loser. Now the defense is helpless. If they continue Clubs, South can trump in dummy. If East overtrumps, you can win in hand and pull the last trump. If West leads a Spade, you win, pull trump and claim. 

This teacher also gives classes in declarer play!

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