BRIDGE News:

In the June 1 North American Pair game, Martin Cooper and Jerry Fleming were 1st in Flight A, Mary Courtright and Ann-Marie Graves were 2nd in A, Jerry Morzinski and Randy Baker were 3rd in A, and Steve Kemic and Jennifer Young were 4th in A. Harry Dewey and Linda Lambert were 1st in Flight B, and Al Pratt and Gina Doorn were 2nd in B.

In the June 3 Unit Championship, Jerry Morzinski and John Ruminer were 1st in Flight A, Ann-Marie Graves and Mary Courtright were 2nd in A, and Martin and Beverly Cooper were 3rd in A. Gina Doorn and Al Pratt were 1st in Flight B.

Here is a hand that requires perfect defense to hold declarer to 9 tricks. Any misstep, and declarer will make another. This can be crucial If E/W bid game.

This is Board #10 from our June 3 game. East was the dealer, and both sides were vulnerable.

East will open the bidding with 1♥, and South should make a 3♣ preemptive overcall, showing a long suit and less than an opening hand. This puts pressure on West, who should probably venture a 3♥ bid, even though he/she has only two hearts.  However, the hand has a great 11 HCP. Whether North makes a 3♠ bid or passes (recommended), East should contract for the 4♥ game.

South has a choice of the K♦ or 6♠ lead.  The spade lead should be preferred whether or not North bids the suit.  A diamond lead will ensure that declarer can make a 10th trick. North will win the AK♠ but must find the correct lead at trick 3. It’s tempting to try to give partner a ruff by leading a 3rd spade, but all East has to do is ruff with the J♥, draw trumps and finesse diamonds to gain a discard for the club loser. So, another lead is mandated.

Since South bid clubs, North’s J♣ seems a logical lead at this point, and that will hold the contract to 9 tricks. Good defense is critical to good bridge!

When this hand was played locally, one pair played in 5♥/E down 1, a second pair played in 4♥/E making 4, and a 3rd pair played in 3♥/E making 4. Unfortunately, none of the defenders found the optimal defense.

Interested in Learning how to, RESUMING or playing Beginner Bridge? Contact Neill Goltz—641.236.1170, neill.goltz2@gmail.com—for further info, schedule, location confirmation, or any other questions!  The Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club games are held at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center (BESAC) at 12:45 p.m., Wednesdays, and at the White Rock Senior Activity Center (WRSAC) at 12:45 p.m., Mondays. We will continue to meet regularly on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mesa Top game store (next to Booomerang) on Central here in Los Alamos.

Here in Los Alamos and White Rock, our local club is ready to bring you on board with nighttime, after work or weekend FREE lessons and playing opportunities with other newcomers, resumers, and beginners.