Bridge News:

Here is a hand from the May 7 game of the Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club that again emphasizes the value of distributional hands.

As stated in the previous example, it is often the case that a good distributional fit will allow you to take a lot more tricks than your high cards might indicate.

This is board #12. West is the dealer and N/S are vulnerable.

West is the dealer and has a choice of opening 1♦ or 1♥. The choice West make has an impact on North’s first bid. If West opens 1♦, North will overcall with 1♠. However, if West opens 1♥, which is common in duplicate bridge games where the goal is to find a major suit fit, then North will bid 2♥, which is a Michaels cue bid, showing probably 5+ cards in the other major and 4+ cards in one of the minor suits.

If West opens 1♦ and North bids 1♠, East will probably pass. However, if West opens 1♥ and North bids 2♥ Michaels, East will likely make things very difficult by bidding 4♥.

Is South up to bidding 4♠ after East bids 4♥? That takes some guts, but that is the winning action!

Looking at all four hands, both 4♠ by N/S and 4♥ by E/W are easily made! While this doesn’t happen often, very distributional hands make it possible, and when this happens, the action can be quite interesting, with both sides competing to a high level!

When the hand was played locally, three pairs were in 4♠ making 5, and the other 2 pairs were in 4♥ making 4. For a change, not surprising!

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.