Another Interesting Hand

In favorable vulnerability, right hand opponent open with strong NT (15-17), I hold ♠ 3 ♥Q 3 ♦AKJ873 ♣ 9763 and overcall 3D. All pass. West started with ♥5. Plan your play!

	Dummy
	♠ Q J 7 2
	♥ 10 8 7 2
	♦ 6 5
	♣ A Q J
	Declarer
	♠ 3
	♥ Q 3
	♦ AKJ873
	♣ 9763

East won with the ♥ K and switch to a small diamond. Not knowing the position of high cards yet, I chose to play the Ace and continue with club finesse. East won with the King and return a small spade. This return will bring home the contract. Won with the ♠ A, West return another club. Here the position after 5 tricks and defender has won 3 tricks.

	Dummy
	♠ Q J 7
	♥ 10 8 7
	♦ 6
	♣ A
	Declarer
	♠
	♥ Q
	♦ KJ873
	♣ 97

How do you continue? Ruffing finesse spade for club discard? Not logic. If you want to do that it means club divided evenly. So finesse diamond, draw one more round of trump and play heart. East was end-play. Here are the complete hand

	Dummy
	♠ Q J 7 2
	♥ 10 8 72
	♦ 6 5
	♣ A Q J
West		East
♠ A 10 6 5		♠ K x x x
♥ J 6 5		♥ A K 9 x-
♦ x x		♦ Q x x
♣ 10 x x x		♣ K x
	Declarer
	♠ 3
	♥ Q 3
	♦ AKJ873
	♣ 9 7 6 3

The interesting aspect is when East return club at trick 4. Won in dummy, finesse a diamond then declarer play a spade. If West follows the rule of second hand low, he gives declarer the contract. West will be squeezed in 3 suits: club, heart and spade.

Many ways to bring home the contract

Last night I played online bridge in Bridge Base, famous with BBO. I found out an interesting board as below. You West Partner East

You	North	Partner	South
1H	pass	2H	pass
4H	pass	pass	pass

Here are the complete deal.

	Dummy
	♠ K 7 5 2
	♥ J 8 7 2
	♦ Q J 7
	♣ 8 2
West		East
♠ AJ109		♠ 8 6 3
♥ Q 10 5		♥ K
♦ A1065		♦ K9832
♣ 7 6		♣ KJ54
	Declarer
	♠ Q4
	♥ A 9 6 4 3
	♦ 4
	♣ A Q 10 9 3

I have to bring the game contract in heart. West start with ♣ 7. After winning East' ♣ K, I play Ace of trump and continue. West win the 2nd round and play a third heart. I won in dummy and finesse club to bring home the contract. On the other table, West start with ♦ A and continue. South ruffs and then play the Ace of trump. When the King drops from East, South continues with a small spade. West is in dilemma. If he plays the Ace, then declarer just need a club finesse to land the contract. Because 2 more club loosers can be discarded from diamond and ♠ K. So, West plays small spade. Won with the King, declarer then plays the ♦Q to discard his ♠ Q. Finesse club and cross ruff club and spade and West discards all his spade during the process. Declarer has 9 tricks so far and just need 1 more trick. Here are the 3 cards ending when declarer play spade from dummy.

	Dummy
	♠ 7 5
	♥ J
	♦ -
	♣ -
West		East
♠ -		♠ 8
♥ Q 10		♥ -
♦ 10		♦ 9 2
♣ -		♣ -
	Declarer
	♠ -
	♥ 9 6
	♦ -
	♣ 10

When East play ♠ 8, declarer knows that the 8 is the highest spade. If he ruffs, west will overruff and draw his trumps, so he discards his club winner. If trump was 2-2, then he is safe as he will get his 10th trick. If East started with his lonely ♥K, then by discarding his ♥J will win en-passan. So, there are many ways to land the contract.

It's not a Match Point Game

There are two main types of scoring in bridge, an imp and match point game. In the former type, you can play safely to bring home the contract while in the latter you should play for overtricks, bidding aggressively such as making a penalty double on a thin contract. I found out such player characteristic on a team event. I was first to speak and opened 1S (precision), LHO overcalled 2H, partner raised, RHO made an information double, I passed. LHO bid 3D(natural), all passed, and back to me and reopen with 3S. RHO made a penalty double.

South	LHO	Partner	RHO
1S	2H!	2S	X
pass	3D	pass	pass
3S	pass	pass	X

West started with a small diamond. Here's the hands.

	Dummy
	♠ J 8 2
	♥ Q 8 7 2
	♦ K86
	♣ 865
	Declarer
	♠ A 10 9 4 3
	♥ K 4
	♦ J 4
	♣ AJ32

How do you plan the play? There is a danger you will go down more than 1 trick. You can see that 3D is a good contract. So, you have to play for 1 down at maximum. I play low on dummy, East win with the ♦A. He returns a small club. To have a better chance, I play the Jack, but it loses to ♣K. Next club I win with the Ace on East ♣Q and I play a third round of club, East win and all follow. A diamond return is won in dummy, diamond ruff and I play a small heart to Queen. Next a heart (East play the Jack) to a stiff King. West win and return the heart. I ruff. Here's the position on 4 card ending.

	Dummy
	♠ J 8 2
	♥ 8
	♦
	♣
	Declarer
	♠ A 10 9
	♥
	♦
	♣ 2

I calculate west's distribution. 5 cards heart along with 4 cards diamond and he has shown 3 cards club, hence he has 1 card spade at maximum. He has shown ♥A, ♣ K and ♦Q. So, west should begin with a stiff honor in spade. So, I lay down the ♠A and see west follow with ♠Q. I ruff my last club with ♠J with result in with just 1 down, just a flat board as 3D just books in other room. Did you recognize that West made an overcall with just 11 high card point and a stiff honor in opponent suit? It's not a match point.

Double Dummy Defense

On the last session in the swiss event, you need to win as many victory point as possible to grab the championship title. However, when you are on the high ranking table, your opponent is also a good team. So, you need to play very carefully especially in the defense. I found it in recent tournament. I was first to speak and opened 1D (precision), LHO pass, partner bid 1NT, RHO pass as well as you. LHO bid 2D (majors), partner passed, RHO bid 2H. As partner was on the balancing position, he doubled for take out, I passed with: ♠ K1095 ♥ KJ105 ♦ 865; ♣ AJ.

You	North	Partner	South
		1D	pass
1NT	pass	pass	2D(*)
pass	2H	pass	pass
X	all pass

The first decision is the opening lead. Which card do you start with? The choices are ♠9, ♥10, ♦6. Club is not my choice with this holding. I chosed to start with with ♦6, declarer play the ♦Q, partner played low. Next comes the the ♣9. You win with ♣J. What next? This card will determine your team success. If you find the correct card, then your team at least will be in the second, you will be the 5th otherwise.

	Dummy
	♠ A J 8 2
	♥ Q 8 72
	♦ J107
	♣
You
♠ K1095
♥ KJ105
♦ 85
♣ A

What will play next? Spade? Heart? or another diamond? Let's make some calculation. What inference do you get with the way declarer handle the contract? It seems that declarer does not have 2 honors in club along with ♦A. Then, partner hold the ♦K. So, partner already shown ♦K with either ♣Q or ♣K. The missing honors are ♥A and ♠Q. Which one is in partner hand? If he just has ♠Q, partner will not double in balancing position. So partner must have the ♥A doubleton or singleton. As he bid 1NT, most probably he had 2 cards in heart. So, you have a double dummy defense now to beat the contract. What card will you return?

	Dummy
	♠ A J 8 2
	♥ Q 8 7 2
	♦ QJ10 7
	♣ 9
West		East
♠ K1095		♠ 7 6 3
♥ KJ105		♥ A3
♦ 865		♦ K93
♣ AJ		♣ K8764
	Declarer
	♠ Q4
	♥ 9 6 4
	♦ A74
	♣ Q10532

The best return is ♥J. If declarer cover, defender will play for 4 rounds of heart. So, declarer will only have 4 diamond tricks, 1 heart trick and 2 spade tricks, total 7. If declarer ducks in dummy, a second heart will be won by East (partner). East will return the diamond, declarer will win in dummy. A diamond to the Ace will win result in the following distribution.

	Dummy
	♠ A J 8 2
	♥ Q 8
	♦ 7
	♣
West		East
♠ K1095		♠ 7 6 3
♥ K 10		♥
♦ -		♦ -
♣ A		♣ K876
	Declarer
	♠ Q4
	♥ 9
	♦ -
	♣ Q1053

So far, declarer just had 3 diamond trick. He was in dilemma. If he ruffed a club, then play the last diamond, West will ruff and draw last trump. Although he was throw-in, declarer just collect 7 trick, 3 diamond, 1 club ruff and 2 spade trick. However, West should return ♠K!!! On the other hand, if declarer finesse spade and ruff the third round, ruff club, there is no entry to ruff another club. Either way will end with 7 tricks only. A very difficult defense. I failed to find the best defense, so our team was in 5th place.

Watch Out the Card Played on the First Trick

When a defender makes an opening lead, and dummy cards are displayed, you have to take a careful action in managing the contract. Inspect the dummy carefully and think for some times before playing the first card from dummy. In the following deal, you can elimate the guess if you play carefully for the first trick. Below is the bidding:

South	West	North	East
1S	pass	2D	pass
2S	pass	3S	pass
4C	pass	4NT	pass
5S	pass	6S	all pass

West started with ♥7 and East suprises you with a ruff. Your contract is in danger when East return a club. Here are the complete distribution.

	Dummy
	♠A J
	♥A J 10 5
	♦A Q 10 4 2
	♣J 3
West		East
♠ 5		♠10 7 6 3
♥ K98753		♥ void
♦ J62		♦ K9843
♣ K75		♣ Q984
	Selatan
	♠ KQ9842
	♥Q 4 2
	♦ void
	♣ A1062

Several declarers will play the Ace on club return and play a spade to Jack followed by a small diamond ruff. Then play a second trump to dummy. When West discard his heart, declarer then assumes West is 1633. So he plays the ♦A and he has to assume that is West holding in the diamond, Jack or King. Declarer has to assume West hold an honour in diamond in order to fulfill the contract. As the cards lie, if he choose to play the ♦Q, pinning the Jack, he will succeed. He will fail otherwise. Did you notice that declarer can easily land the contract as long as he throw his ♥Q on the first trick. So, he may ruff a second diamond, draw trumps and use his heart entry to play the ♦A. When ♦J appears, he can finnese East King. So, be careful with your card play on the first trick. If declarer fail to unblock the ♥Q, West can refuse to cover the Queen. Then, declarer will be short of entry to play the diamond.

Second Hand High

One of the basic lesson in bridge defense is to play second hand low. However, bridge is a game with full of exceptions. This is why bridge become an interesting game. Frequently, you have to play in a different manner, as in the diagram below. At love all, the bidding is as below:

West	North	East	South
1D	pass	1S	2H
X	2S	pass	4H
allpass

West started with ♠5 and declarer immediately play ♠J which held the trick. Declarer then play the spade to the King at the second trick. At trick 3, he continues with ♥2, plan your defence!

	Dummy
	♠ A J 8 2
	♥ A J 5
	♦ 10 9 7
	♣ 8 6 3
You
♠ Q95
♥ K5
♦ AJ62
♣ K975

If you play according to the rule second hand low, you give a chance for declare to fulfill their contract. Below are the complete distribution.

	Dummy
	♠A J 8 2
	♥A J 5
	♦10 9 7
	♣8 6 3
West		East
♠ Q95		♠ 10 7 6 3
♥ K5		♥ Q8
♦ AJ62		♦ Q843
♣ K975		♣ J104
	Declarer
	♠ K4
	♥10 9 7 4 3 2
	♦ K5
	♣ AQ2

Declarer will play the Ace, cash the ♠A, then exit with the heart, throw you in. So, before playing any card you have, please take several considerations!!!.

SUPER 1NT

Board 7 (Dealer: S, Vul: all) from mixed pair 17th Indonesian National Games leaved a good story. Let's see them all.

	North
	♠ Q J 6 2
	♥ K 6 3
	♦ Q 9 4
	♣ Q J 9
West		East
♠ K 874		♠ 10 9 5
♥ Q 7 2		♥ 9 4
♦ K 8 7		♦ A J 2
♣ A 7 2		♣ K 10 8 6 4
	Declarer
	♠ A 3
	♥ A J 10 8 5
	♦ 10 6 5 3
	♣ 5 3

After South pass, West open a weak (12-14) 1NT and play there. This contract is very superior as it can't be beaten!. As seen in the vugraph, North started with ♠2 and South won with the Ace. He switched to ♥10. The critical point is in this trick. West should cover this and save the contract. If South cashes 5 times hearts, then it will squeeze North in spade and club. Please look at the position after 6 tricks below.

	North
	♠ Q J
	♥ -
	♦ Q 9
	♣ Q J 9
West		East
♠ K 8		♠ 5
♥ -		♥ -
♦ K 8		♦ A J 2
♣ A 7 2		♣ K 10 8
	Declarer
	♠ 3
	♥ -
	♦ 10 6 5 3
	♣ 5 3

Now, South returns a spade. West wins and plays 3 times diamond and West discards his small club. North is being squeezed. Spade discard will make declarer home, while club discards will have the same effect. The interesting point: Is it possible to beat the contract? The contract will be beaten if West fail to cover the ♥10. South will return &spades and declarer only has 6 tricks. If West cover with ♥Q, North is entryless. For instance, after winning with ♥K, North play ♠Q. West won and play the heart to 9 to rectify the count. South club returned won in West hand to play another heart. Now if South cashes his remaining hearts, the similar position as above happened. If South switch, then South can revert back to club for his 7th trick.