Spade Heart  Diamond Club
Little Clacton Bridge Club
11th February 2016
Board 9: Opening Hand + Opening Hand = Game

On this hand one pair bid to 3NT but the others who stopped short would have been well served by the old adage 'an opening hand opposite an opening hand means game'. It isn't as true as it used to be now that we open on 12 points not 13 (or even lighter using the 'rule of 20') but it is still a good rule of thumb.

The key to reaching game lies with South. South's first bid will be 1♦ their longest suit, there is no need to show the Spades first because even with a weak hand North will rebid 1♠ if she holds four Spades.

North has no choice but to rebid 2♣ and we are now at the first critical moment in the bidding. Should South Pass, bid 2♦ , or bid 2♠ and why?

South has 14 points so should not even think of Passing. With at least 26 points between the two hands South should be expecting to play in game somewhere.

So what should South do?

South must not rebid 2♦ . Think what message North will receive if South bids 2♦ . They will hear something like this: "I've heard you say you have a weak hand and a long Club suit and despite that I still think this will play better in 2♦ . Trust me and Pass" And Pass is just what North will do if South rebids 2♦ .

South's best bid is 2♠ . South knows North doesn't have four Spades but knowing about the second suit may help North bid No-Trumps. 2♠  also tells North that South has game values because it forces opener to go the 3-level if they prefer Diamonds.

Now we get to the second critical point.  What should North do next after South's 2♠?

South has said we have values for game and has shown Diamond and Spade control. With Clubs and Hearts stopped North only really has one choice and should bid 3NT.
First things first.....

This hand is based on one in my other favourite book on card play: Card Play Technique by Victor Mollo & Nico Gardener.

Playing red-suit transfers 2♦ shows five Hearts and 3NT shows 13-18 points. With three Hearts South chooses to play in 4♥ .

West leads the ♠ Q and after thanking your partner you start to count and plan before even thinking of calling for a card from dummy. What does your count reveal?

You can only count two immediate tricks and despite the fact that you can see plenty of possible tricks you also count four losers: three Aces and a small Spade. It looks like you need to careful.

What are you going to do? Make your plan before revealing the answer.

If your plan was to do anything but play on Diamonds first then you won't make your contract. The defence will win whatever you lead and come back a Spade. Now there's nothing you can do that will stop them winning four tricks (three Aces and a Spade). Well done if you got it right but be careful because just planning to play on Diamonds isn't enough.

Let's look at the four questions you should have considered before calling for a card:

  1. How can I reduce my four losers to the three I can afford?
    • If you can knock out the ♦A you can throw your losing third Spade  on the ♦J
  2. Which suit should I play first?
    • You must play Diamonds first. Whatever you play the defence will come back a Spade and you must be ready to discard the Spade loser immediately they do because you won't get a second chance
  3. How should I play that suit?
    • You must play the ♦K on the first trick even if you have to throw it under the ♦A. If you don't then it will block the suit and prevent you discarding your Spade loser.
  4. Where should I win the first trick?
    • You must win the first trick in hand with ♠ K. Otherwise good defenders will duck the first Diamond trick and take their ♦ A on the second round. If you squandered dummy's ♠ A on the first trick you will then be unable to reach dummy and hence unable to discard the losing Spade before the defenders take the third round of Spades.
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