March 2025 - 59

Better Bridge with Bergen
Intermediate Players
BY MARTY BERGEN
martybergen.com
Opener rebids after a 1NT
response to 1h - part 4
Here is where I left you last month.
You are South, declaring 5d, which
appears to be the correct contract for
your side. The opening lead is the dQ.
North (Dummy)
s J
h A 7 6 5 4 2
d A 3 2
c A Q 7
South (You)
s 10 7 6
h J
d K 9 8 6 5 4
c K 10 9
North
1h
2c
3s
Pass
North's 3s splinter bid was the key
in getting to the good game, but one
disadvantage of splinter bids is that
they may help a knowledgeable opponent
find a good trump opening lead.
Without that, it would have been easy
to ruff two spades in the dummy. Oh
well.
South
1NT
2d
5d
Improve your bidding judgment - part 46
East will follow with the d7. If diamonds
are divided 2-2, your contract
is not in jeopardy. Therefore, you
should assume they are 3-1. How
will you play?
Decision 1 is where to win the
opening lead. As always, I suggest
making your plan right now.
I hope you decided to try to set up
hearts. In my classes, in an attempt
to get my students to try to set up
long, weak suits, I have often stated,
" I never met a five-card suit I didn't
like. " And if it's good to try to set up
five-card suits, it must be even better
to be eager to set up six-card suits!
With that in mind, you should win
the opening lead in your hand and
save dummy's dA entry so you can
later get to dummy to continue leading
hearts.
Trick 1: So, you play low from
dummy. East follows with the d7 and
you win the dK.
Tricks 2-3: You lead your hJ to the
ace and ruff a heart. As expected,
E-W both follow. (As many of you
now know, as long as you continue
sensibly, your contract is assured.)
Trick 4: You lead a diamond to
dummy's ace. West follows with the
dJ and East discards a spade. West
is left with the winning d10.
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March 2025 | Bridge Bulletin |
59
Trick 5: You lead the third round of
hearts from dummy and East plays
the hK. You ruff it. West is out of
hearts and discards a spade.
Trick 6: You lead a club to dummy's
cQ.
Trick 7: You lead the fourth round
of hearts from dummy and East plays
the hQ, which you know is his last
heart. You ruff, and West discards a
club.
Tricks 8-9: You cross to the cA,
lead a winning heart and discard a
spade. West ruffs with the d10.
Trick 10: West cashes the sA and
then graciously concedes. Making
five.
Here is the full deal:
s J
h A 7 6 5 4 2
d A 3 2
c A Q 7
s A K 3 2
h 9 8
d Q J 10
c 8 6 4 2
s Q 9 8 5 4
h K Q 10 3
d 7
c J 5 3
s 10 7 6
h J
d K 9 8 6 5 4
c K 10 9
2
http://www.martybergen.com http://www.acbl.org/biggames

March 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2025

March 2025 - 1
March 2025 - 2
March 2025 - 3
March 2025 - 4
March 2025 - 5
March 2025 - 6
March 2025 - 7
March 2025 - 8
March 2025 - 9
March 2025 - 10
March 2025 - 11
March 2025 - 12
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March 2025 - 14
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March 2025 - 88
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2025_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2025_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2025_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_03
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_01a
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_09
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2010_12
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2009_09
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2008_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_11
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_09
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