Bridge News:

Here was an interesting hand at our December 23 game. Before reviewing the bidding and play, try to visualize how the bidding might proceed, and then how the hand should be played.

Board 1: North was the dealer; Nobody was vulnerable.

The bidding is straightforward. After two passes, South opens with 1♥, West is likely to overcall 1♠, North has a textbook raise to 2♥, East will likely raise partner to 2♠, and South will close out the auction at 4♥.

West will likely lead the ♠6 at trick one (fourth best), assuming East has supported West’s overcall. Taking stock, declarer can see a possible total of 5 losers, a spade, two diamonds and two clubs. The only hope is that the ♦K is onside, and that diamonds split 3-3. So after winning the ♠A, declarer should draw trumps, play the ♦A, and lead a low diamond toward the ♦Q. West will probably win the ♦K and shift to a club lead. Declarer can win the Ace and lead another diamond toward the ♦Q. When both opponents follow suit to the 3rd diamond lead, the 4th diamond in dummy is good and can be used to discard one of the losing clubs. In this way, the only losers are a spade, a diamond and one club.

When this hand was played locally, each of the four N/S pairs played in a 4♥ contract. One pair made 5 somehow, another pair made 4 and two pairs were down 1. You never know!

The Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club games are held at 12:45 p.m., Wednesdays at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center (BESAC), and at 12:45 p.m., Mondays at the White Rock Senior Activity Center (WRSAC). Duplicate lessons are given from 10 a.m. until noon, Friday at the BESAC, when BESAC is open.

Bridge players are welcome to participate. If you need a partner, please e-mail Bobby Haynes at rsh@valornet.com, or Jerry Fleming at peanutcat@aol.com.