FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

WHEN NOT TO SACRIFICE

The afternoon penny game had ended, and Rose showed me today’s deal. She had been East.

“When North-South bid four spades,” she said, “I wondered whether I should sacrifice at five hearts. We would be down only one.” “If the hearts lay a bit differently,” I observed, “your ‘sacrifice’ could turn into a make. But who was South?” “Unlucky Louie,” Rose replied. “Then sacrificing is less attractive,” I said. “Louie may find a way to go down at four spades.”

“He ruffed the second diamond,” Rose said, “drew trumps, attacked the clubs and lost three clubs. Down one.”

End Play

After Louie ruffs the second diamond (not best defense), he can lead a trump to dummy, ruff the last diamond, return a trump to dummy and lead a heart to his ten. (For East to play the king won’t help the defense.) When West wins, he is end-played. Whether he leads a diamond — conceding a ruff-sluff — or returns a heart or a club, Louie gets his 10th trick.

Avoid taking sacrifices against a weak declarer.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ A Q 10 9 5 ♥ A J 10 ♦7

♣ K 9 8 5. You open one spade, and your partner raises to two spades. The opponents pass. What do you say? Answer: Game is possible, especially if partner has help for your second suit. You will be a favorite at four spades if he has K 8 4 3, 7 6 5, J 6 5 3, A 2. But if his hand is K 8 4 3, 8 7 6 5, K J 6, 6 4, you need to stay low. If you judge to try for game, bid three clubs, asking him to pay attention to his club holding.

West dealer

Both sides vulnerable