Bridge News:
Here is a hand from the May 12 game of the Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club that offers an opportunity for both sides to compete for a part score contact.
Hands where both sides are bidding are among the most challenging for duplicate players.
This is board #2. East is the dealer and N/S are vulnerable.
East is the dealer and passes. South opens the bidding with 1♦ and West has a classic takeout double – opening strength in high cards, and support or tolerance for all the unbid suits. While North lacks high card strength, he/she has a long, reasonably strong spade suit worthy of a preemptive jump to 2♠. Should East bid 3♥ over 2♠? Probably so, though many Easts will pass. Should East bid 3♥, that will probably end the auction. If East passes, South may well pass, which would probably end the auction. However, some Souths may well find a 3♦ bid, which is an excellent choice on this hand! Should that happen, the bidding will pass back to East, who may well pass, holding strong diamonds. 3♥ is still a reasonable possibility. In any event, that should end the auction.
Looking at all four hands, 3♦ by North should make, losing a club, a diamond (finessing against East, as West showed diamond shortness with his/her initial takeout double). While a N/S 3♥ bid appears trivial, looks can be deceiving! Assuming South leads the ♦A followed by the ♣A and then another club. North ruffs and leads the ♠Q, which South ruffs. Another club ruffed again by North, followed by another spade lead and a ruff by South, and the contract is set two tricks! Sounds bad, but if N/S are making 3 diamonds for +110, a 2-trick set by E/W, who are not vulnerable, costs them only -100!
When this hand was played locally, one pair played in 3♦/S making 4, a 2nd pair played in 2♥/W down 1, a 3rd pair played in 3♣/W making 3, a 4th pair played in 3♠ /N down 2, and a 5th pair played in 3N/E making 3.
The Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club games are held starting at 12:45 p.m. Wednesdays at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center (BESAC) and 12:45 p.m. Mondays at the White Rock Senior Activity Center (WRSAC). Check out the Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club’s new website at www.ladbc.net to learn what it’s all about, contact the club to get involved, join the fun and much more.