By Valerie Rhead
LET THE ENEMY PLAY THEIR SUIT OR SACRIFICE? THAT IS THE QUESTION
“The five-level belongs to the opponents!” How many times have I heard that and how many times have I decided to take a chance and raise my four-Heart bid to a big five-Hearts after my opponent’s aggressive four-Spade bid. Usually I’ve gone down one, or two, and likely have been doubled. Sometimes the down result is good! But, there’s always that heart-stopping moment at the end of the play when we check the score traveller to see if they could have made their four-Spade contract. Of course, if they couldn’t have made it, it’s a phantom save and a bottom board, once again.
One of the readers of this column suggested today’s topic. It’s a difficult question to answer. Whole books have been written about it. A close reading of a book like “The Law of Total Tricks” by the esteemed bridge writer, Larry Cohen, could provide answers. The “Law” says that you can safely bid up to the number of trump your side holds, with some adjustments either raising the value of your hand or lowering it. For example, a flat hand (3,3,3,4) is a negative factor and suggests that the total tricks will be less than the number of trump. Another example: Extra length or voids suggests that the total tricks made will be greater. All this doesn’t guarantee that you will make the contract, but that you will often get a better score with a sacrifice than letting your opponents play their suit.
You’ve probably encountered hands, usually with lengthy suits, that could make a game or even a slam in either direction. More frequently, one hand can make game, but the other can’t. The hand that can’t may go down only a trick or two for a good score. Depending on vulnerability, you may be able to fare better declaring such a hand and going down than leaving them to play in their suit. If you’re doubled and vulnerable and they’re not vulnerable, this can be tricky. If you’re down two tricks, that’s a minus 500, which is a better score for them than the 420 they can make for their own game. If you’re not vulnerable, you can afford to take more chances because down two tricks doubled now is only minus 300.
Just last week, our non-vulnerable opponents bid five-Hearts over our four-Spades. We doubled and they went down two for 300. Our four-Spades was made by other pairs for 420. Great bid by the enemy! Good sacrifice!
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group, send the information to [email protected] and I will include it in this column.
SYRIAN REFUGEE FAMILY FUNDRAISER
LUNCHEON AND BRIDGE PARTY, ALL WELCOME
Saint Patrick’s Day
12 NOON FOR LUNCH Thursday, Mar 17, 2016 $20 per person
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, Bracebridge, 118 McMurray Street
Please arrange your foursome and bring cards for your table.
For Tickets, Call with four names Sylvia Miles 645-8556 [email protected]
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Huntsville Club are now Tuesday afternoon 1PM for the winter Jan‑Feb‑Mar, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Call Betty 705-789-2560 [email protected] or Susan at 705-789-7156 [email protected] for information and partnerships. For the winter, the game now is held downstairs in the warm basement. To avoid the long stairs, enter from the door on Main Street.
The following results are for Tuesday, Mar 8 with 5 tables playing a Howell movement. 1. Heather Hockin and David Hockin; 2. Chris Karn and Vern Foell; 3. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 4. Betty Fagin and Rod Dixon; 5. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games at the Bracebridge Club are at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road 7pm Monday evenings. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following results are for Monday, Mar 7 with 8 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 2. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 3. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 4. Bev Parlett and Vern Foel; East-West 1/2. Ruth Thompson and Don Evans; 1/2. Albert Eatock and David Bryce; 3. Kelly Andresen and Helen Pearson; 4. Betty Rintoul and Barb Forth
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