Bridge: Oct. 6, 2024

In tournaments, pairs use an array of bidding gadgets. World-class partnerships discuss their methods for hundreds of hours, and even a casual partnership will have a few agreements to cover common situations.

None of this is secretive. You are entitled to know about your opponents’ agreements, especially if they are unusual. Tournament players must alert their opponents to a conventional call. Having clandestine agreements would be contrary to the spirit of the game.

The same principle applies in a casual setting, though in a friendly social game, partnerships won’t be using many complexities. Still, you may benefit from a bit of information.

Today’s East opens 1NT, and South overcalls two spades. South doesn’t promise a big hand — he didn’t double 1NT for penalty — but North raises to game.

West leads the ten of clubs, winning, and then the queen. Declarer ruffs the (not best) third club, takes the ace of diamonds and ruffs a diamond. He cashes the A-K of trumps and ruffs another diamond. East has followed to the diamonds with the three, jack and queen; clearly, he has the king left.

How should declarer play the hearts?

Declarer should ask about East-West’s agreed range for a 1NT opening bid. If it’s 15 to 17 points, South must guess. But if East-West use a 16-to-18 range, East, who has shown 11 high-card points in the minors and has the ace of hearts, must have the jack of hearts as well.

So declarer leads a heart to dummy’s queen. When East wins, he must return a heart from his jack or concede a ruff-sluff.

East dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S K 8 6 4

H Q 10 4

D A 6 4

C K 6 3

WEST

S 3

H 9 7 5

D 10 8 7 5 2

C Q 10 9 5

EAST

S 10 2

H A J 8

D K Q J 3

C A J 8 7

SOUTH

S A Q J 9 7 5

H K 6 3 2

D 9

C 4 2

East South West North
1 NT 2 S Pass 4 S
All Pass
Opening lead — C 10

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