Pondering between playing for a drop or opting for finesse - the essential dilemma at hand for the Bridge game
In a recent game of Contract Bridge, the dealer was South, and the auction unfolded as follows:
- North passed in the first round, and East followed suit.
- East bid 1NT in the second round, indicating a balanced hand with at least five cards in each major suit.
- West's 2D was a weak take-out double, suggesting a shortage in diamonds and a strong suit elsewhere.
- North competed with a take-out double, indicating a shortage in hearts.
- East must hold at least three hearts, as a bid of 1NT would not have been made otherwise.
- North bid a No Trumps (NB) in the second round, showing a strong hand with length in at least one major suit.
- South's bid of 3D in the fourth round was a preemptive bid, showing a six-card suit in diamonds.
- West, with six diamonds, bid astutely on to 3D, but South contested and ended in 3H.
- South bid 3H in the fifth round, indicating a strong hand with length in hearts.
- If either player held a five-card suit, it is likely to have been bid.
In competitive contracts, there is an opportunity to exploit information from the auction. By analysing the bidding sequence, one can predict opponents' hand strength and distribution, identify possible suits and controls held by opponents, evaluate partner's hand and support, and use competitive bids to convey specific information.
Paul Mendelson, a renowned bridge columnist, often emphasizes logical deductions such as inferring shortage or length in certain suits, gauging suit quality, and timing to compete or defend effectively. In this game, for instance, we can infer that West must have six diamonds to bid at the three level, and West must not have a singleton club unless it was K♣ singleton.
A heart to dummy's ace, then a finesse through East for Q♥, will bring home the contract. East's hand contains four spades, three diamonds, and no more than three clubs. This game serves as a great example of the strategic thinking and inferences required in competitive contract bridge.
For more detailed examples or a precise summary from Mendelson's writings, please let us know, and we can provide insights based on his published bridge literature.
