EASY AUCTION BRIDGE LESSON

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 346, 10 July 1930, Page 2

EASY AUCTION BRIDGE LESSON

No. 21. 1 (Special to Press) Bridge players can be divided into three classes. A small number in class No. 1 know how to play the game. Class No. 2 contains the great majority who think they know how to play, and the few in class No. 3 are anxious to play better bridge. I hope you belong to class No. 3, but if you are a member of the second class perhaps these lessons have given you a greater interest in the game and helped you to realise that bridge is a partnership game, played with 26, not 13, cards. Make “ Play Better Bridge ” your slogan, and do everything possible to improve your standard and that of your friends. Remember that post-mortems are of little value. Players learn more away from a bridge table. No doubt you have cut out the lessons, but if you have not, or desire to give copies to your friends, the complete set can be obtained' - from me. Write to Box 401, G.P.0., Melbourne, for particulars. When playing a hand one often wishes a lead could be made from Dummy for a finesse. The lead is often in Dummy but is thrown away by careless play or failure to plan the play. Examine last week’s hand carefully.

The quick trick values are given at the side of the hands. South is the Dealer, and the score love-all. South, the Dealer, would bid 1 Spade, and West 2 Clubs. North lacks normal suport for Spades, so he should deny them by bidding 2 Diamonds. In addition to denying Spades, North tells South that he has a biddable suit which may provide cards of re-entry into Dummy. East is just a little too weak to raise West’s 2 Clubs, and South is justified in bidding 2 Spades because of his strength and the difficulty in getting game in Diamonds. That completes the Auction, South obtaining the Contract at 2 Spades. West should lead the King of Clubs from A.K.Q., and Dummy is placed on the table with the trumps on the right. South must finesse Spades and Hearts, and to do so must lead from Dummy four times if his first finesses are successful. I wonder how many players led the 2 of Diamonds to trick two? The lead of the 2 is fatal for a Grand Slam. One of the high cards should be led, because it is the only way four leads can be made from Dummy. If both opponents follow suit to the first two leads of Diamonds four tricks will be made in

that suit, so there is no risk of losing a Diamond trick. Look for those hidden cards of re-entry, and, when you have them, do not waste good cards. To see a player use Dummy’s Ace, King, Queen suit straight off and later be short of cards of reentry is pathetic. Pause, plan, then play.

South takes the last three trick-s with the Ace of Hearts and two trumps. Result : 7 over in Spades, 63, and 100 for Grand Slam. Play next week’s hand over with three friends and compare the result with the correct play. The following is the hand for next week: — South. Spades, K.Q.J.4 ; Hearts, '7.3 ; Diamonds, A.K.7.5 ; Clubs, A.K.Q. West. Spades, 9.5.3.2 ; Hearts, A.K.2 ; Diamonds, 9.3 ; Clubs, J.l 0.9.5. North.—Spades, A. 10.8.7 : Hearts, Q.J.10 ; Diamonds, 8.6.4 ; Clubs, , 7.6.3. East.—Spades, 6; Hearts, 9.8.6.5.4; | Diamonds, Q.J.10.2 ; Clubs, 8.4.2. i ' South is the Dealer and the score i love-all. I (Copyright by S. N. Lythgo, Box ! 401, G.P.0., Melbourne)

Leader. Suit I>ed. Cards Played. West Clubs K.4.3.S2. South Diamonds J.4.A.5. North Spades 5.3.Q.S. South Diamonds 10.6.K.7. North Spades 7.9.J.10. South Spades A.C2.C7.K. South Diamonds 9.8.Q.C5. North Hearts 2.5.Q.3. South Diamonds 2.C8.3.C6. North Hearts 4.7.J.6.