Bridge

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 21:16

JEFF Meckstroth is alleged to have said: "Whenever you have a ten-card Major suit fit – bid game."

This is because when you have so many trumps you often do not need very many high cards. Even when your game does not make, it will often be a good sacrifice against opponents' game. This example comes from the Spring Foursomes.

West did not open, but seized the opportunity to show his good spade suit by overcalling 1S. North, a passed hand, showed a maximum with 2D, and East duly bid game in the ten-card Major fit. He cannot have expected this contract to make. On this occasion, missing four aces and with three club losers, it is not even a very good sacrifice, costing 800 against the vulnerable game. But opponents do not know that, and may misjudge the situation when you have jammed the bidding. Even when they decide to double you, they do not always find the best defence.

South showed her second suit, and North cuebid her ace of diamonds. As so often happens, South did not expect partner to have a wasted ace of spades, and booted slam. The pre-emptive bid had done its work: with this trump break slam was doomed. But the Junior sitting East could not resist taking out insurance. This is shocking tactics, assuming that when you have cramped opponents' auction to give them problems they have nonetheless done the right thing. Five down, -1400, was what the 6S "sacrifice" deserved.