THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1938, Page 19

THE GAME OF BRIDGE

SOME HANDS FROM PLAY

East dealer. Both sides vulnerable. After a pass by East, South, with an 84-1 distribution, made a pre-emptive bid of four hearts. West, with 4J honour-tricks, decided that his hand was not strong enough to make the only forcing bid available at this level —the forcing four no-trump overcall. His partner had already passed, and such a force might prove disastrous in a vulnerable position. He therefore doubled South's four-heart contract. South lost two heart tricks, one spade trick, and one club trick, and was one down on her contract—2oo points. East-West, with a slam in either of the two minor suits, were crowded out of the bidding by South's pre-emptive major suit bid. South,- needless to say, was delighted with the result—EastWest's feelings can better be imagined than described. A pre-emptive opening, bid is a very difficult proposition for the opponents to deal'with, and, when made after a pass by the opening- hand, has a particularly crippling effect upon the third hand, while the. pre-emptive bidder is safe in the knowledge that he can stand any penalty that may be coming to him!

A DOUBLE THAT DID NOT PAY.

This hand occurred in a rubber game. After North's opening bid of one club, South's intervening overcall, not vulnerable, of one heart, was justifiable under the Culbertson rule of 2 and 3, as she held-di honour-tricks with 4i playing tricks altogether in the hand,

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and was within three tricks of hei contract. ' .

South, tempted by visions of a handsome penalty score, doubled, instead c? making a force. After this bid North could only puss. Thi contract wa» defeated by five tricks for a penalty of 1100 points, East making only two heart tricks. North-South, however, would have scored for the small slam in clubs, vulnerable, 1570 points, including 700 for the rubber. East-West eventually won the rubber, so that the big penalty score mad* earlier against them was neutralised, A QUESTION OF ENTRIES.

North dealer. North-South vuln» able. 1 North opened the bidding with . a forcing two bid in clubs, and NorthSouth arrived at a contract of seven no-trumps. The whole of the thirteen tricks were in sight as soon as the dummy hand was laid down, or so.il would appear. West led the three of hearts and the trick was taken in dummy with the Queen. The Ace, King, Queen ol diamonds were then played. -A .low club was led to South's Ace—and East showed a void.." Declarer now had ta lose a club trick, as he was unable to lead twice through West's clubs, having no further entries in his hand. He had taken it for granted that he could take every trick, and played the hand carelessly, without stopping to consider the . question of entries .in his hand. It- is. never? safe to < overlook, this consideration, even though it may appear to be quite unnecessary. South made his first mistake in play by winning the first heart trick with dummy's Queen. The Ace should have been played, in order to provide an entry with the King, should it be needed. He should next have played dummy's Ace and King of spades, to unblock for his Queen. After playing the Ace, King, Queen of diamonds, and finding that the suit did not break, South's next play is a small club to his Ace. The Queen of spades gives dummy a discard for the losing diamond. A small club lead through West compels him to play one of his honours. Declarer can then re-enter his hand by leading dummy's Queen of hearts and overtaking with his King, to lead another club through West'? hand, and make the grand slam contract.