Bridge News:

Here is an extremely interesting hand that showed up on the Oct. 30 ACBL-wide Instant Matchpoint game.

Before reviewing the bidding and play, try to visualize how the bidding might proceed, and then how the hand should be played.

Board 5: North was the dealer; North/South were vulnerable.

Granted this is a pretty sophisticated auction, but the great players, and many good players, are almost always able to find a cold slam like this. North’s 1NT opening shows 15-17 high card points (HCP) and a balanced hand.

*Showing at least 5 spades

**Showing spades and diamonds, and a good hand, forcing to at least game

***Showing 1st or 2nd round control of hearts. A control is the Ace, King, singleton or void in the suit bid

****Showing 1st or 2nd round control of spades, as diamonds has been agreed as trumps.

Opening lead: ♣A, to which everyone follows. In all likelihood, West then follows with the ♥A, which declarer ruffs. Trumps are drawn in two rounds, after which declarer plays his/her 3 high spades, ruffs the 4th spade and claims the rest of the tricks.

When this hand was played at the local club, one N/S pair played 4♠ making 4, another played 4♠ down one, two pairs played 5♦ making 6, and the 5 th pair played 3♦ making 6. Unfortunately, for those players playing a 6♠ contract, the ♥A lead and/or the bad distribution of the spade suit will limit declarer to 11 tricks.

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 (Mondays at 12:45 p.m.). Duplicate lessons are given at the BESAC 10 a.m. until noon Fridays when BESAC is open. Bridge players are welcome to participate. If you need a partner, please email Bobby Haynes at rsh@valornet.com, or Jerry Fleming at peanutcat@aol.com.