European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 28, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse In for the count both vulnerable. West deals. North k 01�49 a k 10 8 3 093 6 West East 92 7 6539 a a 4 97 0 a k 8 i 0 q j is a q 7 4 j1093 South a 10 99652 0764 k 8 5 2 the bidding West Nolb East South it 2 4 pass 39 pass 4 9 pass pass pass opening Lead King of 0 percentage plays Are the Mark of a skilled player. However when you know the distribution required for such a line to succeed cannot exist you must consider an alternative. North s two clubs Over West s 16-18 Point no Trump was the Landy convention. Vulnerable it promised at least 10 cards in the major suits and a reasonable hand. South s jump to three hearts was invitational. With his holding the major suits alone could produce 10 tricks so the King of clubs was a North s raise to game was faultless. West led the King of diamonds on which East dropped the Queen. Since that guaranteed Possession of the Jack or a Singleton West continued with a Low Diamond. In with the ten East shifted to the Jack of clubs. There was no Point in cover ing so Declarer played Low and ruffed the second club in Dummy. Since the defenders had their Book Declarer had to bring in the Trump suit without loss. Normally the Best line would be to Cash one High Trump. If an Honor drops from East Declarer should then Cross to the closed hand and finesse West for the other Honor. However South had done his arithmetic. His Side s combined As sets were 20 Points and East bad shown 4. Therefore West had to have both heart honors for his 16 Points. So Declarer came to hand with the ten of Spades and led the nine of hearts running it when West followed Low. Had West split his honors Declarer would have re turned to hand with the Ace of Spades to finesse for the other Hon or. Either Way the contract was Safe. Q. Both vulnerable As South you hold 7s 9762 0942 4akj107 partner opens the bidding with one no Trump. What do you respond you consider Only Point count your 8 Points qualify for an invitational raise to two no Trump. However this hand rates to produce five tricks for partner making it a much better hand than one with say some random collection of secondary High cards. Bid three no Trump. Q. Both vulnerable As South you hold 4-kj1095 9s6 oqj3 kj7 the bidding hat proceeded North East sooth West 1 words of Lour Lound among it try to score a 0141 uni a cryptoqu1p qsm1h emf e Hulot pm its e oks Puld " y k u t k v m m ii p up t / today s crypt pulp clue f equals m
