Bridge News:

This is a very competitive hand from the Feb. 24 game.

This is board #2. East is the dealer and N/S are vulnerable.

East is the dealer and opens with 1♥. South overcalls 1♠. West makes a takeout  double, showing a decent hand and support for the unbid suits. West raises to 2♠,  and East now bids 3♣. That will likely end the auction, given that N/S are vulnerable, and going set a trick or two, particularly if doubled, will cost a lot more than an E/W  part score in clubs.

Assuming E/W play in a club contract, they should make 3 or 4, losing a spade, a heart and 1-2 clubs.  Should N/S win the contract in spades, they should lose a heart, a club and 2-3 diamonds, making 2 or 3.

In the auction described above, West’s negative double promises support or  tolerance for the unbid suits, and lack of support for any suit partner has bid. Negative doubles should be an integral part of your bidding system, as they allow  you a) to enter auctions where you might not be able to do so otherwise, and b) these are very descriptive bids that take up no bidding room.

When this hand was played locally, two pairs played in 2♠/S making 2, one pair  played in 3♣/E making 3, another pair played in 3♣/E making 4, a 5th pair played  in 3♥/E making 3, and the 6th pair played in 4♣/E down 2.

The Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club games are held at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center (BESAC) Wednesdays starting at 12:45 p.m., and at the White Rock Senior Activity Center (WRSAC) Mondays at 12:45 p.m. Duplicate lessons are given at the BESAC on an occasional basis on Fridays, 10 a.m. until noon when BESAC is open. Bridge players  are welcome to participate.

If you need a partner, or want to know if lessons are in session, please email Bobby Haynes at rsh@valornet.com, or Jerry Fleming @ peanutcat@aol.com.