Bridge

Things Your Bridge Teacher Won't Tell You (Master Point Press) is a first-rate book, full of practical tips, which I highly recommend. The author is Dan Romm, probably an unfamiliar name to you, but having had success in tournament play in his younger days, Romm then devoted himself to rubber bridge, at which he is a consistent winner.

You may not wish to take on board all his recommendations, but reading his well-reasoned arguments will at least give another point of view. My one criticism is his use of Xs in the hands, but for the sake of verisimilitude, I reluctantly reproduce them here.

This is a lesson in deception. South opens with a weak Two Spades; West doubles, and North bids Four Spades.

West leads the jack of diamonds. Unless West has the doubleton or singleton ace of hearts - unlikely, given West's take-out double - there are four losers. Romm advocates winning with the queen in hand and immediately advancing a low heart, presenting West with a dilemma. East can be placed with either ace or king of clubs - no top club lead - and West with most of the other absent honour cards. West must decide whether South holds a singleton heart and CJxx(x) - in which case West must rise with the ace in order to beat the contract. Would West really suspect you of holding HQxx? This play should be made at the first chance - before drawing trumps - to limit defensive signalling opportunities.

East-West game; dealer South

North

4 Q x x x

! K x x

# A K x

2 Q 10 x

East

4 x

! x x x

# x x x

2 A J x x x x

South

4 K J 10 x x x

! Q x x

# Q x x

2 x

West

4 A x

! A J x x

# J 10 9 x

2 K x x

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