Imagine you hold the hand below and are the fourth to bid
after three passes to you. West dealt and everyone is vulnerable. The hand
certainly does not meet the rule of fifteen to open in fourth seat (the rule
of fifteen states that high card points plus number of spades should add up
to fifteen in order to open). With only ten high card points, including the
singleton king of spades, I would certainly pass. What about you—what would
you bid?
If you chose to pass out the hand, as I would have done,
you would have missed a game! Of the six tables where this was played, only
one passed it out. Four tables ended up in game in hearts played by South,
and three of these made it. The defence can take a diamond, a heart and two
clubs. However, if West makes the probable lead of the jack of spades,
declarer will take it in hand with the king and then cross to the ace of
diamonds on board. A low club is thrown on the ace of spades and now the
defence can take only three tricks—a club, a diamond and a heart. So four
hearts bid and made by South.
I would like to hear from readers about their favourite hands—please do
contact me at [email protected] Bridge Club of Chiang Mai welcomes
all players. We have members from seventeen different countries already. For
information on the Club go to the web site www.bridgewebs.com/chiangmai.
