Daily Bridge Club

Spring NABC coming up

The American Contract Bridge League’s Spring Championships start a week from Friday in Philadelphia. The ACBL, which promotes all types of bridge with a focus on competition, runs hundreds of tournaments yearly as well as local club games. Philadelphia is hosting one of three 10-day “Nationals.” (See acbl.org.)

ACBL tournaments are for everyone. There will be events and activities for players at all levels.

Tournament play improves your game and measures your progress. Doing well is exhilarating, but you need good technique. Say you play at 3NT as today’s South, and West leads the queen of spades, won by your ace.

TOP TRICKS

You have six top tricks and need three more before West can use his spades. If the missing clubs break 2-2, you can get three extra club tricks. If clubs break 3-1, you can succeed by losing a heart to the ace and finding a 3-3 diamond break.

Test the diamonds. If they break 3-3, force out the ace of hearts. If not, play clubs and hope for good luck there.

DAILY QUESTION

opens one spade, you respond 1NT, he bids two hearts and you return to two spades. Partner then bids 2NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your “false preference” of two spades showed fewer than 10 points and only a tolerance for spades, not real support. Knowing that, your partner bid again and so remains interested in game. Since you have a maximum hand for your previous bidding, go to 3NT and expect to make it. South dealer N-S vulnerable