A 4-3 fit is for sissies. Try a 4-2 fit!

When you have a 4-3 fit in trumps, that's called a Moysian fit. It's named after the late Sonny Moyse, an editor of the Bridge World magazine back in the Fifties and Sixties.

At the local bridge club in Memphis, one pair bid and made 4♥ in a 3-3 fit. I blogged about it last August and you can read what I wrote here.

I played at the club last night and I'm glad I did. It happened again! Well, sort of. After a bidding accident, North-South played 4♥ in a 4-2 fit (hands rotated and low cards approximate where immaterial):

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

South opened 1♣, West made a light overcall of 1♦. North made a negative double, and, after a pass by East, South bid 4♥. North squirmed for a while, but could think of no way to escape, so passed. Good thing or we wouldn't have a story. When in doubt, go for the story -- bloggers appreciate having something to write about.

West led a low heart which was won by declarer's ♥10 -- one problem solved. He advanced the ♣3 to the king and ace. East led back the ♦Q. Declarer did not cover and West chose not to overtake and return one to East for a ruff. Hey, this is a 4-2 fit and you will normally need some luck to make it, right? I'm just sayin'.

East exited with a heart to dummy's ace. Declarer led a spade to his hand to draw the remaining trumps. Now he played the ♠K and the ♠J to dummy's queen. When that suit divided 3-3, he cashed the fourth spade and discarded his losing ♦K. He led a club from dummy. At this point he had West's hand counted and knew she had started with two clubs. He thought for a while (East might have split her honors with a holding that included the ♣10 9), and played the queen, dropping the jack. He led the ♣9 to the 10, and won trick 13 with his 8.

That was 10 tricks via four spades, four hearts, and two clubs. Plus 620 was worth 5 on a 7 top (two pairs made more in 3NT).

A 4-3 fit? Hah! Anybody can do that. It takes a real hero to play a 4-2 fit and make game.

I've played thousands of bridge deals over the years. Nearly every time I play, however, I see something new. What an amazing game!