Bridge News:

Here is another competitive hand at the Dec. 18 game played at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center.

Before reviewing the bidding and play, try to visualize how the bidding might proceed, and then how the hand should be played.

Board 9: North was the dealer; East/West were vulnerable.

While there are not 22+ HCP to make a typical 2♣ opening bid, this hand is very distributional with only 4 losers, so a 2♣ opening bid is warranted. Shows a decent hand with some strength. See below. What else can South bid?

Dealer is North and opens a strong 2♣. East passes, and South should respond 2♠, showing a positive response to partner’s 2♣ opening, and at last a good 5-card spade suit. North’s rebid is 3♦, showing at least 5 diamonds and lacking as many as three spades. What should South do now? He/she has already shown a good spade suit, and certainly is in no position to bid notrump with two weak suits, so that leaves 4♦. That’s all North needs to bid 6♦.

The play is straightforward. Declarer wins the opening lead, or the 2nd lead if the defenders take the ♠A at trick one. After that, lead the ♠9 if spades have not yet been led, or the ♦AQ if the ♠A won the first trick. In either event, the ♠QJ will allow you to eliminate your club losers.

When this hand was played locally, one pair played in 6♦/S making 6, another pair played in 5♦N making 6, one pair played in 3♦ making 4, and the 4th pair played in 3NT making 4.

The Los Alamos Duplicate Bridge Club games are held starting at 12:45 p.m., Wednesdays at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center (BESAC), and 12:45 p.m., Mondays at the White Rock Senior Activity Center (WRSAC). Duplicate lessons are given at the BESAC, 10 a.m. until noon, Friday when BESAC is open. Bridge players are welcome to participate. If you need a partner, please email Bobby Haynes at rsh@valornet.com or Jerry Fleming at peanutcat@aol.com.