December 2008 - 42

PLAY BRIDGE

Bridge
Player's
Survival
Kit

953
AQ
Q62
 K Q 10 9 8

slamhand@verizon.net

Double fits-which
should be trump?
This deal is worth a close look:
Dlr: South  10 4
Vul: N-S  K Q 9 3
 10 9 8 4
 A 10 5
962
J7
N
J87
W E  10 2
AK763
J52
S
K7
QJ8642
AKQ853
A654
Q
93
North

East

Experience is a good teacher when
it comes to making a decision about
winning a trick or ducking. Here is an
example of a holdup by declarer.
A84
8732
 A J 10
AJ2

Leslie Shafer

West

Answers to Mike's
Bridge Quiz See page 40

South
1
3 (3)

Pass
2 (1) Dbl (2)
Pass
4
All Pass
(1) This overcall usually shows a bona
fide opening hand (usually 13 or more
high-card points). However, West
wanted to give his partner a leaddirecting bid. West failed to consider
that he was probably going to be on

South opened 1, North responded
1, and South rebid 1NT. He was not
happy with his 9 5 3, but rebidding
lead.
1NT was not terrible given the alternative was rebidding a five-card club suit.
(2) North used the negative double to
North raised to game, ending a brief
show some values with at least four
sequence. West led the 2.
hearts. A negative double is much
South noted that he had eight sure
like a takeout double - it tends to
tricks and that if he held up on the
show the unbid suits with emphasis
spades, he could take a diamond finesse
on an unbid major if there is one.
into East, who would not have a spade
(3) South was pleased to find the
to return.
4-4 heart fit. It would probably play
Here is how the play went. South
better than a 6-2 spade fit. South
ducked
the opening lead and East won
jumped to show his invitational-
the
J.
East continued with the Q.
range hand with 16-18 playing
South
knew
West was leading fourth
points.
best, so West rated to have four spades
West led the A. South made 12
and East three. South let the queen hold,
tricks for plus 680.
too. East continued with the 6 and
So why would a 4-4 heart fit play
South won in dummy.
better than a 6-2 spade fit on this
South now followed his expected line
deal? A beginner would probably
of play by cashing five clubs and then
choose to play in his six-card suit in
leading the Q for a finesse. East took
case he needed to pull trumps and
the K and played a heart. South wasn't
ruff some losers.
about to finesse. If it lost, he would lose
Keep in mind, however, that when
another spade and be down one. Instead,
considering game, if only one of the
South cashed his nine tricks and made
fits is a major suit, you should play  3NT.
"Very nice," said North. Was it?
Here is the full deal:

If the total number of trumps
is equal, it is better to be in the more
evenly distributed trump suit.
42

Bridge Bulletin



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2008

Viewpoint - Brent Manley
Letters to the editor
From the CEO - Jay Baum
Houston hosts Spring NABC
Part 1 of the World Championship report
Experts Stewart, Cohen agree to disagree
Europe thumps American in the annual Buffett Cup
Augie Boehm's reunion with college friends
East hands - The Bidding Box
Club News
The Bidding Lab - XYZ (part 2) - Mike Savage
The Bidding Box
Obituary - Greg Gault (1941-2008)
Obituary - Ruth M. Novack (1909-2008)
It's Your Call
Instant Matchpoint Game
Ruling the Game - Mike Flader
For Newer Players
Teacher's Notes - Val Covalcuic
Ask Jerry - Jerry Helms
Mike's Bidding Quiz - Mike Lawrence
Conventional Wisdom - part 5
Bridge Player's Survival Kit - Double fits: Which should be trump? - Leslie Shafer
Answers to Mike's Bidding Quiz
Why Play 2/1 - Lynn Berg
Common Sense Bidding - Responsive and competitive doubles - Mary Smith
Play & Learn - Location matters? - Pat Harrington
For Intermediate Players
Boehm on Bridge - Bridge Puzzles 28
The Real Deal - Larry Cohen
Claim with Colchamiro - Mirror, mirror on the wall (part1)
Better Bridge with Bergen - Following the LAW
Chalk Talk - Eddie Kantar
It's Just MayHem - Game tries (part 2)- Marilyn Hemenway
For Advanced Players
My Bridge and Yours - Matchpoint defense (part 4) - Frank Stewart
Bidding Matters - 12 Habits - Karen Walker
Test Your Play - Eddie Kantar
West hands - The Bidding Box
Mike's Advice - 2/1 in competition - Mike Lawrence
Solutions to Test Your Play
Winsome and Loathsome - Zeke Jabbour
Bridge with the Abbot - David Bird
George's World - George Jacobs
Partnership Bridge - The Granovetters
Nash Ramblings - Laura Nash
ACBL Election News
Life Master Milestones
In Memoriam
New Life Masters
Book reviews
Tournament Directory
December 2008 - 1
December 2008 - 2
December 2008 - 3
December 2008 - 4
December 2008 - 5
December 2008 - Letters to the editor
December 2008 - 7
December 2008 - 8
December 2008 - From the CEO - Jay Baum
December 2008 - Houston hosts Spring NABC
December 2008 - 11
December 2008 - 12
December 2008 - 13
December 2008 - Part 1 of the World Championship report
December 2008 - 15
December 2008 - 16
December 2008 - 17
December 2008 - Experts Stewart, Cohen agree to disagree
December 2008 - 19
December 2008 - Europe thumps American in the annual Buffett Cup
December 2008 - 21
December 2008 - Augie Boehm's reunion with college friends
December 2008 - East hands - The Bidding Box
December 2008 - 24
December 2008 - 25
December 2008 - Club News
December 2008 - 27
December 2008 - The Bidding Lab - XYZ (part 2) - Mike Savage
December 2008 - The Bidding Box
December 2008 - 30
December 2008 - Obituary - Ruth M. Novack (1909-2008)
December 2008 - It's Your Call
December 2008 - 33
December 2008 - 34
December 2008 - 35
December 2008 - Instant Matchpoint Game
December 2008 - 37
December 2008 - Ruling the Game - Mike Flader
December 2008 - Teacher's Notes - Val Covalcuic
December 2008 - Mike's Bidding Quiz - Mike Lawrence
December 2008 - Conventional Wisdom - part 5
December 2008 - Answers to Mike's Bidding Quiz
December 2008 - 43
December 2008 - Why Play 2/1 - Lynn Berg
December 2008 - Common Sense Bidding - Responsive and competitive doubles - Mary Smith
December 2008 - Play & Learn - Location matters? - Pat Harrington
December 2008 - Boehm on Bridge - Bridge Puzzles 28
December 2008 - The Real Deal - Larry Cohen
December 2008 - Claim with Colchamiro - Mirror, mirror on the wall (part1)
December 2008 - Better Bridge with Bergen - Following the LAW
December 2008 - Chalk Talk - Eddie Kantar
December 2008 - It's Just MayHem - Game tries (part 2)- Marilyn Hemenway
December 2008 - My Bridge and Yours - Matchpoint defense (part 4) - Frank Stewart
December 2008 - Bidding Matters - 12 Habits - Karen Walker
December 2008 - West hands - The Bidding Box
December 2008 - Mike's Advice - 2/1 in competition - Mike Lawrence
December 2008 - Solutions to Test Your Play
December 2008 - Winsome and Loathsome - Zeke Jabbour
December 2008 - Bridge with the Abbot - David Bird
December 2008 - George's World - George Jacobs
December 2008 - Partnership Bridge - The Granovetters
December 2008 - Nash Ramblings - Laura Nash
December 2008 - ACBL Election News
December 2008 - Life Master Milestones
December 2008 - 65
December 2008 - In Memoriam
December 2008 - New Life Masters
December 2008 - Book reviews
December 2008 - 69
December 2008 - Tournament Directory
December 2008 - 71
December 2008 - 72
December 2008 - 73
December 2008 - 74
December 2008 - 75
December 2008 - 76
December 2008 - 77
December 2008 - 78
December 2008 - 79
December 2008 - 80
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