Saturday, March 21, 2015
Schedule, Results, ACBL Live and Bulletins
Using the bidding as a guide to play and defense
Opening lead: 4
Bidding commentary: East’s preempt is normal, and your 4 bid shows a big hand. When the bid to your right is weak, a jump by you is strong. Partner’s 5 is a slam try and you accept.
Defensive commentary: Notice the lead of the 4, low from three in an unsupported suit. Had West supported, the lead would be the 8.
Play commentary: After winning the A, draw trumps and ruff a club. Now your best chance to avoid two diamond losers is to play the A K and ruff a spade, dropping the queen 37% of the time. As it happens, the J is good for a diamond discard and you are playing for an overtrick. If the Q doesn’t appear, cross to dummy with a trump and lead the J. East, the 3 bidder, figures to show out, so discard a diamond, a loser on loser play. After West takes the trick, he has no safe return.