A loser-on-loser play is a “buy-one-get-one-free” deal — and everyone likes those. You lose an unnecessary trick but are trading one loser for another. In the process you develop an extra winner.
Such plays gain in many situations. Today’s West leads the ace of diamonds against four hearts. Say South ruffs, draws trumps and leads a spade to dummy’s ten. East takes the queen and leads the jack of clubs, and the defense gets three clubs. Down one.
FIRST TRICK
South has the material for 10 tricks — seven winners in trumps and three in spades — but he must not let East get in for a club shift. At the first trick, declarer discards a spade, trading a diamond loser for a possible spade loser.
If West shifts to a trump, South wins, takes the A-K of spades and leads the jack. If East covers, South ruffs, leads a trump to dummy and discards a club on the high ten of spades. If instead East follows low, South pitches a club. He loses at most three tricks however the cards lie.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 8 7 H 2 D A J 8 6 4 3 C A Q 10 8. Your partner deals and opens 1NT. The next player passes. What do you say?
ANSWER: In an unfamiliar partnership, with no special bidding agreements, you would have to bid five diamonds or 3NT. Regular tournament partnerships would have a way to look for the best contract. For instance, responder might start with a bid of two spades as a “transfer” to 2NT, then bid three diamonds to suggest a strong, unbalanced hand.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A K J 10
H 9 7 5 3
D K
C 7 5 3 2
WEST
S 8 7
H 2
D A J 8 6 4 3
C A Q 10 8
EAST
S Q 9 3 2
H Q
D Q 10 9 7 5 2
C J 9
SOUTH
S 6 5 4
H A K J 10 8 6 4
D None
C K 6 4
South West North East
4 H Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead — D A
©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
#June #Mercury #News