Ludington Daily News – 15 Sep 2003
At the start of a deal, we assess our hand primarily — or purely —by its high-card content.
However, that supplies only a rough initial appraisal. As the auction proceeds, we should be re-evaluating based on the calls made by partner and the opponents. Also, we should judge how our hand compares with what partner expects and how well our hand fits with partner’s.
Look at today’s North hand. Partner opens 1
, you respond 1
, and he rebids 2.
, you respond 1, and he rebids 2.What would you do now, if anything?
Partner’s sequence promises at least six hearts but a minimum opening bid: some 12-14 high-card points. With more, 15-17 points, he would have rebid 3.
.Adding your 10 points to partner’s gives you a combined 22-24 which is not normally enough for game — unless the hands fit well. And do the hands fit well?
Obviously not. You should pass out two hearts. Don’t look for thin games with a misfit. Now become South. Against 2, West leads the 
J: Q, A, 2.
, West leads the J: Q, A, 2.East shifts to the 
J: Your Q loses to West’s K, and a club comes back to your A. You cross to dummy with a diamond and call for a trump. After East plays low, what would you do?
J: Your Q loses to West’s K, and a club comes back to your A. You cross to dummy with a diamond and call for a trump. After East plays low, what would you do?With four side-suit losers (one spade, two diamonds and one club), you can afford only one trump loser. You should put in the Q. When it matters, this succeeds whenever East has king-third or king-fourth. To start with low to the 10 wins only when East has jack-third, which is obviously half as likely.
Q. When it matters, this succeeds whenever East has king-third or king-fourth. To start with low to the 10 wins only when East has jack-third, which is obviously half as likely.Fit is fantastic; misfit is miserable.
