Hand of the Fortnight

Number 15

 

Theme:          Pushing Pre-Empts

 

West is dealer. You are sitting East. N/S are vulnerable. The bidding has gone

                        W          N          E          S

                                    3D            X            ?

Q:      What do you bid with

                                    S:   9 4 3

                                    H:   A

                                    D:   K 9 4 3

                                    C:   Q 9 8 6 4

A:      You bid 5D !!

 

I imagine all sorts of adjectives flood many players’ minds e.g. maniacal, suicidal,....however,

you have put 4H and 4S out of the equation for N/S and left them little bidding space to find their possible best fit.

The vulnerability is important too. Apart from HA, you have no significant threats to 4H or 4S. Since they’re short in Diamonds, your DK isn’t much help.

That means  – 620 or – 650 is highly probable.

 

The Full Deal:

                                                            North

                                    S:   A K J 2

                                    H:   K Q 9 3

                                    D:   Q

                                                C:   A J 3 2

 

                                    West                                                                           East

S:   T 6                                                                        S:    9 4 3

            H:   8 7 5                                                                   H:   A

            D:   A T 8 7 6 5 2                                                      D:   K 9 4 3

            C:   7                                                                           C:   Q 9 8 6 4

                                                South                          

S:   Q 8 7 5

                                                H:   J T 6 4 2

                                                D:   J

                                                C:   K T 5

 

Main Points:

1)      If you pass, N / S will end up in 4H making 10 tricks on DA lead and C7 continuation

or 4S making 10 or 11 tricks                               .

2)      Not all Souths will go to the 5 level having not heard a suit called by partner (whose “Double”

is correct.)

3)      Plan your play sitting E / W defending a 4S or 4H contract. Plan your play to keep them

to 10 tricks.

4)      Now try sitting N / S in a 4S or 4H contract. Plan your play to make 10 tricks. Unless they’re

careful, East may have to lead you a Club and, worse still, hand you 11 tricks!

5)      Q.:          If at a later stage, you need to try a Club finesse, what signs would you have seen to

indicate that East is almost certain to have it?

A.:          You will have seen West play 2 Spades & 3 Hearts.

Add on 7-8 Diamonds for the pre-empt and what are you left with?

 

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