IS THE 5-3 OR 4-4 FIT PREFERABLE?

Jessamyn West, an author who died in 1984, said, “We want the facts to fit the preconceptions. When they don’t, it is easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions."”

In bridge, we have suit fits, about which some players have preconceptions. In this deal, Northsouth have a 5-3 spade fit and a 4-4 heart fit. Which is preferable?

Today we will study the 5-3 fit, tomorrow the 4-4.

Against four spades, West leads off with the diamond ace. What should happen?

In the auction, after North jumped to two notrump and South rebid three hearts, North should have raised hearts, but gave preference to spades. South continued with three no- trump to describe his 5-42-2 distribution, and North removed to four spades because he was worried about diamonds. That was understandable, although here, because diamonds were 4-4, three no-trump would have been a lucky make. In contrast, four spades was an unlucky fail.

At trick one, East signaled enthusiastically with his diamond 10. When encouraging, play the highest card you can afford — no half measures. West cashed his diamond king, then continued with another diamond, which South ruffed.

Everything looked easy to South; surely he had five spades, four hearts and one club. But after drawing trumps, he started on the hearts. When West discarded on the second round, declarer led a low club toward his queen, but his luck was still out. West had the king and South had to lose one heart, two diamonds and one club.

Copyright United Feature Syndicate (Asia Features)