ACES ON BRIDGE

The Cavendish Invitational is scored by cross-IMPs. This means that your result on every deal is evaluated against the result from every other table. In turn, that means that a single accident might easily cost or gain you 300 IMPs. Since, by comparison, overtricks gain you an average of 25 IMPs a shot, you can see that the event can be won or lost on a couple of big-swing deals.

As an example, consider this deal, in which Gaylor Kasle was one of the very few declarers to bring home a slam. On an unopposed sequence, Kasle declared six hearts as South, a contract typically declared by North — but here, North had mis-sorted his hand!

Kasle took the spade queen lead in hand and drew four rounds of trumps as East pitched a couple of diamonds and a couple of spades.

Now, the simple analysis might be to assume that since West has four hearts and East none, West (who, you must assume, holds the club king) is more likely to have the doubleton club king than club length including the king and 10. However, Kasle saw there was no need to commit himself at once. He explored further by playing the diamond ace and a second diamond to the queen, and saw West eventually pitch the spade nine.

The odds had changed dramatically: Since his left-hand opponent had started with five red cards, and his right-hand opponent with six, the odds favored running the jack of clubs, then the nine, rather than playing for the doubleton king onside. And that is exactly what declarer did to bring home the contract.

“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come”

— Victor Hugo

ANSWER: Some textbooks would recommend that you bypass the anemic hearts, but if your partner has length there, this plan could cause you to miss a 4-4 heart fit. Respond one heart to ensure you find any major-suit fit you may have. Without four hearts, your partner will normally bid spades at his next turn if he has them.