The Bridge Column

extra values. length As we’ve there, said as before, well as these his extra bids can be very effective when they catch a fit, but they can be expensive when they don’t. It’s not that they are easy to penalize — they are not — but they can give declarer a roadmap to the play of the hand. South won the opening heart lead with dummy’s ace and made the far-sighted play of ruffing a heart with seven of spades. He planned the hand carefully to guard against East holding all four of the missing trumps — a strong possibility after West’s bidding. The eight of spades was led to dummy’s king and South ran the six of spades, under-playing it with his three. A heart was ruffed with the nine of spades before declarer cashed the ace and king of diamonds. Playing West for the 6-5 hand that he had promised in the auction, South exited with the king of clubs! West won with the ace and cashed another club, but he then had to play a heart or a club that declarer could ruff with the 10 of spades. South exited with his eight of diamonds and took the last two tricks with the ace-jack of spades. Very well played!