September 2022 - 59

Intermediate Players
BY LARRY COHEN
larryco.com
F
or the third month in a row,
we visit an " invitation-only "
top-level online bridge tournament
played in 2021. Dealer (both vul
at IMPs) held:
Q 3 kA 6 5 3 2 lK 10 8 2 'A Q
With 5-4-2-2, I typically open in
the major because there is no rebid
problem (1k, then bid diamonds).
However, with honors in all suits, I
think it is reasonable to start with
1NT. If you do (as the expert did at
one table), partner transfers to 2
and then bids 4. Is that a sign-off?
Not if you use Texas transfers. If
partner wanted to sign off in 4,
he would have simply bid 4k and
passed after 4. So, this auction
invites slam. Also, it tends to deny
any singletons or voids (responder
could transfer to 2 and then jump
to the four level in his short suit as a
splinter bid). Would you move on? You
have only 15 HCP, but the controls
and trick-taking potential, along with
the useful Q, are enticing. Let's say
you use Roman key card Blackwood
and land in 6 with a trump lead:
Dlr: South  A K J 7 6 5 2
Vul: Both k Q 10
l 7 3
' K 8
 Q 3
k A 6 5 3 2
l K 10 8 2
' A Q
West North East
Pass 2k Pass
Pass 4 Pass
Pass 5k Pass
All Pass
South
1NT
2
4NT
6
The Real Deal
Not totally impossible
This is disappointing. The duplication
in clubs (wasted 'Q) means that
you face a heart loser and at least one
diamond loser. Ironically, the fivecard
heart suit would have been better
off as only a four-card suit with
the extra little card being in clubs:
Q 3 kA 6 5 3 lK 10 8 2 'A Q 2,
then you could throw a heart from
dummy on a club and rely on the
50-50 lA onside. Anyway, is there
any reasonable chance here? Yes, a
singleton heart honor might be useful,
but there is something better.
Let's assume the lA is onside
(we'll need that for sure). If the player
with the lA also has the kK, we
could be in business. Specifically, if
that person has length in diamonds
(four or more), we have great chances.
It is hard to see, but the gist of it is
that we plan to squeeze East in the red
suits. In fact, this was the Real Deal:
 A K J 7 6 5 2
k Q 10
l 7 3
' K 8
 10 9 8 4
k J 8
l Q 4
' 10 7 6 3 2
 -
k K 9 7 4
l A J 9 6 5
' J 9 5 4
 Q 3
k A 6 5 3 2
l K 10 8 2
' A Q
Declarer won the spade in dummy
(the 4-0 break was actually a good
thing - this increased the likelihood
of East having long diamonds). A
diamond went to the king and declarer
gave up a diamond. There is
nothing the defense can do. Declarer
can win any return, trump a diamond
Defensive Maneuvers
continued from page 58
the defense, West failed to recognize
the potential blockage in hearts. He
cashed the kK at trick three and led
a small heart to East's k10. South
had all the tricks after that. 3NT bid
and made.
Minus 600 was a respectable score
for East-West because many pairs
scored minus 620 or 650 for defending
4. Plus 100 would have been a
top.
September 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
59
in dummy and run winners. Eventually,
he will play the last trump in this
position:
 5
k Q 10
l -
' -
 -
k J 8
l -
' 10
 -
k A 6
l 10
' -
If East throws a diamond, South
takes the last two tricks with the
kA and a diamond. If East throws a
heart, declarer discards his diamond
and takes the kA Q.
Note: If East had both the kK and
kJ, West could win the second round
of diamonds and play a heart to break
up the squeeze. On the actual layout,
declarer couldn't be prevented from
scoring 1430, a lucky (but skillful)
result.
 -
k K 9
l A
' -
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September 2022

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