Contract Bridge

MORE POINTS SCHMOINTS

Marty Bergen’s sequel to his popular 1995 book “Points Schmoints!” — aptly titled “More Points Schmoints!”

— is primarily a compendium of sage advice on a variety of subjects, just as the first book was. It includes sections on hand evaluation, pre-emptive bidding, and signaling among others, plus a discussion of several popular conventions. Sprinkled throughout are more of the amusing anecdotes and words of wisdom that readers found so entertaining in the original.

Today’s deal is taken from the section on defensive card play.

“You are West, looking at a terrific hand. You are getting ready to do some serious bidding when South opens three spades. That is kind of annoying but, no choice, you bid the obvious four hearts. The auction continues with four spades by LHO, back around to you. Should you double? Probably not. Should you bid at the five-level all by yourself? No, that is crazy. So you pass.

“It is your lead. How about your singleton? No, that is unilateral. You make the normal lead of the heart ace. Partner signals with the seven. You continue with your king and everyone follows, partner playing the deuce. How do you defend? Think about where you will find the setting trick.

“The winning defense is for West to cash the club ace immediately and continue with the heart eight. It would be wrong for him to lead a heart honor, as this would tell East not to ruff. Leading your lowest heart will make it obvious for partner to ruff with his spade queen. Declarer will be forced to overruff, promoting your jack for the setting trick. This elegant play is called an uppercut.

“It was crucial to cash the club ace first. Suppose you led the eight of hearts at trick three. When partner correctly ruffed with his spade queen, declarer would discard his club loser and easily win all the remaining tricks.”