CONTRACT BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22988, 16 March 1938, Page 19

CONTRACT BRIDGE

ASSESSING PLUS VALUES EXPERT BIDDING

BY C. L. EASTGATE

As everyone who plays contract knows, the honour-trick table is a very necessary basis upon which to work and build up the full value of a hand. Although the expert player will apparently only just glance at what he holds in his hand in the way of top-cards and quick-tricks, they arc well photographed on his mind without any great effort, leaving the way clear to the assessment of other things, and one of the most important of these is the plus value. A plus value varies considerably in its relative importance, and has to be considered in connection with partner's bidding, and re-bidding, of the suit concerned.

On its own, and without such bidding of the suit, its value may diminish considerably; or, if the opponents have bid it. In slam bidding particularly, the success of a contract often hinges on the placement of a. queen or a jack, or even a ten, or nine.

It is the ability to assess the importance of those minor cards or combinations of cards in one's hand that so often decides the success or otherwise of a hand which may carry with it a big swing. The following hand illustrate! this point:— North, dealer. North-South vul.

Sonth's overcall of the opponents' suit was intended for a cue-bid, showing first round control. Incidentally, East's two-spado overcall was obviously a semi-phychic, and was designed to impress the opponents with more strength than was actually held. South quite properly came to the conclusion that the strength of the hand depended to a largo degree on whether or not his partner could solidify his diamond suit, and that there was a much better chance to get this information by a simple overcall of the spade than by jumping. North, at this stage, could only rebid his hearts, but when his partner's belated cue-bid in spades reached him things lookefl entirely different. South had not overcalled the opponents' suit at hi?, first opportunity; therefore, could not have a "fit'' in the hearts, but now ho was trying to show a good hand, and obviously* seeking information. Note this inference, which was quite logical, and an important point in the bidding. North's diamond raise at this point was an excellent bid. In no other way could South be assured of the solidity of his long diamond suit. The four-five no-trump located all the aces, and over South's six no-trump, North reviewed the bidding situation carefully. His final grand slain bid was based on a fact which so often escapes the average player, namely, that his own bidding had so far omitted to disclose the extra playing tricks in the heart suit. He knew that his partner coukl not count on him for more than the aceking and small hearts; the addition of the queen, therefore, was a definite extra value, which it was up to him to show, and the reward for good bidding came in the laydown slam. North showed a very right and proper appreciation of his plus values in two suits. LAST WEEK'S HAND South dealer. North-South vul.

South is in a final contract of seven no-trump, doubled by East, who has bid diamonds. West opened the diamond seven, and declarer took East's king with the ace. He then ran off six club tricks, discarding 0110 spade and 0110 heart from his own hand; played dummy's ace of hearts, and then led last club. East, having to discard from tlie following: S, KB;H,K; D, J 10, found himself in a continuing or progressive squeeze. Whatever card he let go would establish a trick for the declarer, and that trick would, in turn, again squeeze East out of another, the fulfilling trick. CURRENT EVENTS At tho Northern Contract Bridge Ciub a programme of set hands was brought off last week. Most of the hands were very interesting, one or two being "old timers." Results were as fol-lows:—North-South: Dr. Bruce Mackenzie and C. Bruce-Smith, 71 per cent, 1; Nelson Mitchell and C. L. Eastgate, G6 per cent, 2; Mr. and Mrs. R. K. Wylie, 51 per cent, 3. East-West: Dr. A. J. Friedlantlcr and A. N. Lamb, 70 per cent, 1; N. 0. Morgan and N. Watson tied with Miss M. Langlev and Miss Swap with 71 per cent for second.

NEXT WEEK'S HAND South doalor. Both sides vul.

South is in a four-spade contract, and West leads the diamond queen. How should declarer play? -