WITH VOIDS, WIN MANY TRUMP TRICKS Bridge

Ronald Reagan said, “The go vernment’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” Bridge players’ economies may improve with a wellplaced short suit. If you have a good trump fit, a singleton opposite only the ace, or a void opposite low cards, you will win more tricks than your combined point-count would suggest. In contrast, it is usually bad news to have singletons and voids opposite lots of honors. However, diagnosing the position may be problematic. In today’s crazy deal, how do you think the auction should proceed? North’s four-spade raise is pre-emptive, known as a weak freak in some quarters. It shows lots of trumps and offensive, not defensive, values. Since a weak freak usually contains a singleton or void, South hoped it would be in hearts. So, he control-bid five clubs. Then, when North could control-bid in hearts, South should have settled for six spades. However, he control-bid in diamonds and, after North confirmed a heart void (or bare ace), South jumped ambitiously to seven spades. After West led the heart king, how did South play? Declarer had 10 tricks available with a red-suit crossruff. But he also needed three club tricks. When planning a crossruff, always cash your side-suit winners first. So South, after ruffing at trick one, took those three club tricks. Then he merrily crossruffed home to his grand slam, leaving West to rue that he had not held a trump to lead.