By Val Rhead
I’m sure that you’ve frequently encountered the situation where you have found the eight-card “Golden Fit” and have bid a contract of Four Spades. Then much to your horror, when you start to draw Trump, you find that the opponents’ Trump are split disastrously, either four-one or five-zero.
Now, if you were the defender holding four or more Trump, what action would you take to defeat your opponent? The best defence solution in this situation, if conditions are right, is the FORCING PLAY. You have a two-suited hand, at least four trump, and a long second suit. Or perhaps it is your partner that has made a bid that tells you he has a long suit. Maybe you are the one who is void in trump or have a singleton. You suspect that the Trump has split unevenly and it is your partner who has a Trump stack.
You are the defender. You don’t lead a Trump. You don’t lead a singleton. You lead a card from your longest suit or your partner’s bid suit. Let us say Diamonds. If the declarer is short in Diamonds, he will have to start ruffing the Diamonds as you or partner lead them, or conversely, let you take some Diamond tricks. If the declarer ruffs, don’t overruff. Assume declarer started with five Trump. After his first ruff, his Trump numbers have been reduced to four. You now have an equal number of Trump to declarer. If he is forced to ruff again, you now have more Trump than declarer!
The FORCING PLAY also can be used if you have a long suit and detected from the bidding or the play of the hand that your partner has a strong Trump holding. You continue forcing with your long suit at every opportunity until partner has more Trump than declarer. Sometimes this method gives you one or two extra tricks. Sometimes it allows you to take control of the hand. In any case, it allows you to get a good board.
But, be aware. If it is the DUMMY HAND that is short in Diamonds, the FORCING PLAY doesn’t work. You would be giving your opponents extra Trump tricks from dummy if you lead Diamonds. In this case, you would change tactics and draw your opponents’ Trump giving you two of their Trump for each one of yours. Or lead a singleton asking your partner to return your lead for a ruff.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will include it in this column.
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club have returned to the Summer schedule Tuesday 7:15 start, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Susan Marshall 705 787-5454 or email [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: For the Spring, the Tuesday 7:15pm game will continue downstairs in the warm basement. To avoid the long stairs, you also may enter from the door on Main Street.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Apr 18 with 13 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Yvonne Cox and Kel Andresen; 2. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; 3. Liz Barnes and Rod Dixon; 4. Gerry Flaherty and Vern Foell; 5. Joanne Garvey and Barb Green; 6. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 7. Mary Norman and Don Norman
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 or email [email protected]
The following winners are for Monday, Apr 17 with 15 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 3. Nancy Barber and Isabel Hellberg; 4. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 5. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 6. Art Insley and Don Evans; 7. Lynda Mochrie and Wayne Mochrie; 8. Jeanette Heeneman and Hans Heeneman
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