Bridge Bites

BRIDGE BITES #15

CHOICE OF PROMOTIONS

Brian Gunnell

Here’s a deal which illustrates the technique of promoting trump tricks for the defense. In fact, as you are about to see, this deal provides three distinct examples of trump promotion!

None Vulnerable

East South West North

2♠ 3♥ Pass Pass

Pass

♠ JT7

♥ 98

♦ AQ54

♣ 9543

♠ K2

♥ Q2

♦ JT32

♣ AKJT7

Dummy

West East

Declarer

East’s 2♠ was a “Weak Two”, showing a 6-card suit and less than opening values.

The contract is 3♥, played by South, with you in the West seat. What is your choice of opening lead?

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It’s a comradely thing to lead Partner’s suit, that way you don’t get any bleating in the post mortem with comments such as “Why didn’t you lead my suit?” or sarcasm such as “You did notice that I bid Spades, didn’t you?” But you need a really good reason not to lead your Ace-King suit, and a top Club seems like the obvious lead to us. Nowadays, most players lead Ace from Ace-King, so let’s assume that this is your choice. Partner follows with the Six and Declarer plays the Queen. Does Declarer have a singleton, or is he false-carding?

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The Clubs in the hidden hands are Queen-Eight-Six-Two. If Partner had the Eight-Six-Two she would not play the Six, she would play the Two, so don’t be fooled by Declarer’s feeble attempt at deception, he has another Club! So, you cash a second Club, everyone following. Now what? Partner probably has the ♠A and if so that will take the defensive trick count up to four. Where’s the fifth trick coming from?

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