When we start to learn the game of bridge we are introduced to many
different snippets of wisdom, general
guidelines often presented as catchy phrases
such as "eight ever, nine never" and "when
in doubt, lead trumps." As our skills
develop and experience mounts, we begin to
see that there are few absolutes in bridge.
Virtually every one of the "rules" we
absorbed and added to our burgeoning
repertoire is exposed for what it is, a
starting point. Reasoning and technique are
the tools that will get us through life at
the bridge table, and sooner or later, we
kiss those rules goodbye.
North-South vulnerable South deals
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
1 |
Pass |
2 |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
4NT |
Pass |
5(1) |
Pass |
6 |
End |
|
|
|
(1) One ace
Opening Lead:
5
When
it comes to general defensive technique, "second
hand low" and "third hand high" will usually
work well enough. Today's deal is a notable
exception to the former.
Three of the four North-South pairs stopped in 4.
Declarer led a trump to the ten and king
early on, then (after regaining the lead)
led a second round of trumps from dummy to
the queen and ace. When declarer ruffed a
club in dummy, East, out of trumps, could
not over-ruff, so declarer could come to
hand, remove West's last trump, and claim
twelve tricks.
At the fourth table, North-South reached 6
on the diagrammed auction. North intended
his jump to 4
as a weak signoff but South either misread
North's intentions or felt he was strong
enough to check on aces in any case.
Declarer won the attacking diamond lead in dummy and led a trump, but here
East did not follow the traditional wisdom
by playing low. When he played the queen (second
hand rose), declarer had no winning
countermove. If won the ace and tried to
ruff a club East would over-ruff with the
nine. If he won the ace and continued with
the jack or ten (the better card because
West might err by playing low to cater to
partner's queen-jack doubleton) of trumps,
West could win and play a third trump,
depriving declarer of the club ruff he
needed on this layout.