s H Q Better Bridge D 10 C 6 By ROBERT D. serve an immediate jump to s J s ROSENBLUM three to show the same H H J 8 7 Copley News Service high card count including a D 9 D singleton or . Other five­ C 9 C The maxims we learn as card major players do not S 9 children we must often un­ differentiate and would bid H K 10 learn as adults. In the words three hearts at their first D of the immortal bard, it ain't chance. C necessarily so. What goes up Another popular approach no longer must come down. is the convention lrnown as The nine of spades was Whoever first suggested you . A two-diamond played and trumped with can't have your cake and eat opening by Sou th would show dummy's queen. East had it never heard of the a minimum opening bid of 11 only trumps left so had to un­ . to 15 high-card points with derruf f. The lead of either of This form of end play oc­ specifically five hearts and dummy's cards curs when a defender's four spades. · Here, North enabled declarer to complete finessable trumps are would invite game in hearts his coup against East. De­ trapped without a . by jumping to three hearts clarer simply overruffed and The occasion arises when and South with a maximum won the last trick with his there is no to take a fi­ for his opening would accept, high trump. nesse. Or, more frequently, four. North when there is no trump to S 6 5 The play: lead for a finesse. H Q 6 3 In the tournament that pro­ D A1074 The bidding: duced this hand most pairs C A 6 5 2 The auction was simpJe. reached four hearts or three Having passed, North had no no-trump, although several West East convenient call at his second stopped on three hearts. S A J 4 3 S 10 8 2 turn. Partner was apt to pass Hearts is superior for the H A H J 8 7 5 two clubs or two diamonds limit of the hand in no-trump D 9 6 5 3 D Q J 2 and any number of no-trump appears to be nine tricks C J 9 8 4 C Q 7 3 was out of the question with a whereas most declarers at worthless doubleton spade. hearts made ten tricks. Top South score went to the declarer in Two hearts would be an un­ S K Q 9 7 derbid, so North chose three four hearts who succeeded in H K 10 9 4 2 hearts although he held but making an overtrick. D K 8 The difficulty centers on three-card support. With a C K 10 sound opening South eagerly the trump suit. A spade must carried on to the heart game. be lost. How can South North was the dealer. East­ Other bidding styles are in­ two losing spades in dummy West were vulnerable. structive. Advocates of five­ yet lead and later draw trumps while losing only one card major systems with West North East South forcing no-trump responses trick? Abra cadabra. would have fewer compunc­ West led the four of clubs to Pass Pass 1 H tions about raising hearts. East's queen and South's Pass 3 H Pass 4H The Western Roth-Stone and­ king. Declarer played a low Pass Pass Pass or Walsh approach might trump and when West rose proceed: one heart - on no­ with the ace it suggested trump (forcing); two clubs! strongly that it was singleton. West led the four of clubs. (forced, since a five-card ma­ The diamond shift was won in jor is not rebiddable and a re­ dummy and a spade led to the verse to two spades would queen and ace. West contin­ show a much stronger hand) ued diamonds, declarer win­ - three hearts; four hearts. ning. The club 10 was led to The three-heart bid here is a dummy's ace and a club limit raise, and, following an ruffed. initial no-trump response, South cashed the king of shows 9 to 12 points with spades and trumped a low Better trump support and no single­ spade. He reentered the tons or voids. closed hand with a diamond Those that bid this way re- ruff to reach this ending: Bridge

June 26, 1975