Bidding Nine By Frank Stewart

Source: www.baronbarclay.com

The laws of bridge prohibit bids of more than seven (though I once had an opponent who, when I bid five clubs, jocularly bid “ten clubs” in lieu of doubling me). Today’s South landed at a good six spades but handled the play as if he were higher, much higher.

North Dealer; Both Vulnerable

Lead: Q

South took the A, ruffed a club in dummy and led a trump to his jack. West ducked smoothly. South then ruffed another club in dummy, returned to his Q and cashed the ace of trumps, East discarded, South took the king of trumps and led a second diamond. He would have been safe if West had held another diamond, but West ruffed and cashed a club.

SAFE PLAY

South played as if the bid were nine spades. To safeguard his contract, he leads a heart to dummy at Trick Two and returns a trump to his jack. If West ducks, South leads the ten of trumps or goes to the A and leads a trump to his ten. He can win any return and is sure of 12 tricks: four trumps, two hearts, five diamonds and one club.

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