Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Cute IBPA deal

One of the nice things about being a member of the IBPA (International Bridge Press Association) is that we get a set of bridge deals each month in the newsletter that are interesting.

Try this one: You hold:
A K 9 3 --- A K 9 6 5 3 2 9 7.

You open 1, your left-hand opponent overcalls 2 and partner bids 2. After your RHO passes, what would you bid?

I guess you could torture partner with some cuebids, but, honestly, what do you expect him to tell you? In the newsletter, your hand jumps to 6. They describe this as an "explosive auction." One big plus it has going for it, you likely don't tell them what to do if a club lead matters.

Let's look at all four hands:


A K 9 3
---
A K 9 6 5 3 2
9 7
8 7 6 2 ---
Q 8 7 2 A J 10 9 6 3
8 Q J 10 4
K 5 4 2 Q 8 3
Q J 10 5 4
K 5 4
7
A J 10 6

Now swing around to the South seat and play it with the 2 lead.

Did you ruff the opening lead and play the A? Your partner made an explosive bid, but you just took a stick of dynamite to the play of the contract. The trumps split 4-0 and the contract can no longer be made.

Instead, South should discard a club on the opening lead. East would win the A and return the J (no switch is better). Declarer can win the K and discard a diamond from dummy.

South cashes the Q, then plays a diamond to the ace. A low diamond is ruffed with the J. A trump to the 9 allows declarer to ruff a second diamond with the 10 to establish that suit. Trumps are drawn with the A-K to fulfill the contract.

2 comments:

  1. Good hand, where most would not admit that they might go wrong. We all avoid hasty play to trick one -- right??

    ReplyDelete
  2. @Jeff: Yes. We know better, but . . .

    ReplyDelete