BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

South plays in 4 ♠ , after West had intervened in hearts during the auction, and then leads ♥ K. thiS contract is easier to play than to bid, yet several pairs failed to make game, while others failed to bid it. there is little hope if trumps break 4-1, so you assume the more normal 3-2 break and win the opening lead (because it doesn’t help to duck). then cash ♠ AK and run your club suit. if clubs are 3-3, you will probably make an overtrick.

The bidding is more interesting because, after an opening 1 ♦ by North, most Acol players will respond 1 ♠ rather than 2 ♣ ; the South hand is not really strong enough to show spades on the second round if east rebids 2 ♦ or even 2NT. After the 1 ♠ response, North can raise only to 2 ♠ . What does South do now? If he uses the Losing Trick Count, he should work out that there are only 14 losers between the hands and so can bid game. On the other hand, his suit is so poor he is likely to invite and stop in 3 ♠ . Souths who make the slight overbid of 2 ♣ followed by 2 ♠ get an unexpected bonus, for North — with all his values in the black suits — will have no problem in raising direct to game.