Making do

When you declare a contract at bridge, the minimum number of trumps in the combined hands is generally recommended to be eight. Sometimes you have to get by on fewer.

A 4-3 fit is called a Moysian, named after Alphonse Moyse. He was an editor of the Bridge World magazine and advocated them in certain situations. A decent explanation is available here. Richard Pavlicek shows a good example of a Moysian on his web site here.

Two friends of mine (Xwing and Kelstac) found a Moysian fit playing online at OKbridge. Often you have a singleton in one hand (making notrump undesirable) and you want to ruff that with the three-card suit. This deal was unique, however, as they ruffed with the four-card suit (hands rotated):

                   ♠ A 9 5
                   ♥ A K J 6 4
                   ♦ A 5
                   ♣ J 6 4
♠ Q J 7                          ♠ 10 8 3
♥ 8 2                            ♥ Q 10 9 7
♦ 10 8 3                         ♦ J 4
♣ K Q 7 5 2                      ♣ A 10 8 3
                  ♠ K 6 4 2
                  ♥ 5 3                    
                  ♦ K Q 9 7 6 2
                  ♣ 9

   West   North   East   South
                         Pass   
   Pass   1♥     Pass    1♠     
   Pass   2♣     Pass    2♥     
   Pass   3♠     Pass    4♠
   All Pass

North-South were playing two-way Reverse Drury and so South couldn't bid her diamond suit over 1♥. North made the "expert" call of 2♣ at her first rebid and eventually the pair landed in 4♠.

West led the ♦3. Declarer won the ace and ducked a spade. The defense switched to the ♣K and another. Declarer ruffed and played the ♠A K. When that suit split, she was able to run diamonds and claim 10 tricks via six diamonds, two hearts and two spades. Making plus 420 was a 5.47 IMP pickup.

So, what if the defense started with a club at trick one? Deep Finesse says the contract can still be made. Declarer ruffs the second club, ducks a spade, ruffs a third club in her hand, cashes the ♠K, leads to dummy and draws the last trump.

You can see what all the pairs did if you click here.