Since bridge players have analytical minds, you won’t be surprised to hear that many top experts have made money in the options market.
A good declarer examines his options. His goal is to spot them all, then try the one with the best chance.
At four hearts, South won the first trick, led a spade to dummy and tried a diamond to his nine. West took the ten and cashed the Q-J of trumps, depriving South of a diamond ruff in dummy. South still had chances for a 10th trick — a 3-3 spade break or a winning club finesse — but neither worked. (A complex squeeze would succeed.)
BEST PLAY
South had options (for instance, West might have had K-Q doubleton in trumps) but missed his best play. He should duck the king of trumps, win the next trump, take the A-K of clubs and ruff a club.
West can’t gain by overruffing (then South could ruff a diamond in dummy), so South leads a spade to dummy and ruffs a club. He takes two more high spades, ruffs dummy’s last spade and cashes the ace of diamonds. Making four.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A K 4 2 H 9 7 4 D 7 3 C K J 6 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids two diamonds. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your heart support isn’t robust, but since you have primary values and a possible ruffing value in diamonds, you should pursue a heart contract instead of bidding notrump. Jump to three hearts, inviting game. If your heart holding were Q-7-4, you would bid four hearts yourself.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A K 4 2
H 9 7 4
D 7 3
C K J 6 2
WEST
S J 9 7 6
H K Q J
D K 10 8 4
C 9 7
EAST
S 10 5
H 10 8
D Q 6 5 2
C Q 10 8 5 3
SOUTH
S Q 8 3
H A 6 5 3 2
D A J 9
C A 4
South West North East
1 H Pass 1 S Pass
1 NT Pass 2 H Pass
4 H All Pass
Opening lead — H K
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