s H Q Better Bridge D 10 C 6 By ROBERT D. serve an immediate jump to s J s ROSENBLUM three hearts to show the same H H J 8 7 Copley News Service high card count including a D 9 D singleton or void. 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 Flannery. 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 trump a minimum opening bid of 11 only trumps left so had to un coup. 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 minor suit 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 finesse. 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 entry to take a fi for his opening would accept, high trump. nesse. Or, more frequently, bidding 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 ruff 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