DAILY BRIDGE CLUB
“Me and George [Steinbrenner] and Billy [Martin] are two of a kind.” — former New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Rivers
I expect most bridge players can count to three; counting is a vital element of the game. But some players seem to have trouble with higher numbers.
Today’s South opened 2NT with 19 points when his agreed range was 21 or 22. Players can judge to “upgrade” a hand’s value, and South must have liked his five-card suit. But a 2NT opening is better avoided. It is a space-consuming action that may interfere with careful investigation.
South survived his bid: North raised to 6NT, where there appeared to be 12 easy tricks. But when West led the 10 of clubs, South won with the king and led the ace of diamonds. After that he had a diamond loser and also lost a spade.
Diamonds will break 4-0 only one time in 10, but with a slam at stake, South should try to get a count of the defenders’ distribution. He may find out which defender might have four diamonds. At Trick Two, South leads a spade to dummy’s 10.
East wins and returns a club, and South takes the queen and ace and cashes the A-K of spades. When East discards a heart, South knows that West began with five spades and at least three clubs while East had at most six black-suit cards. So if a defender has all four missing diamonds, it is surely East.
South next leads a diamond to dummy’s king. When West shows out, South returns the 10: jack, queen. He can go to the king of hearts to lead a third diamond to his eight, assuring the slam. South dealer
N-S vulnerable