By Neil Bonnell, Warwick Bridge Club
3NT is a favourite contract for most serious bridge players, Only nine tricks need to be made in order to qualify for a game bonus and there is no danger of your opponents trumping one of your Aces. Leanne Munson and Sandra Head, winners of the local heat of the Australia-Wide Novice Pairs, scored a top on Board 25 (above) by making 3NT.
Neither defending nor trying to make nine tricks was straightforward. A diamond may have been the best lead for West because it gave nothing away. Instead, West led the six of spades, presumably to East’s Jack. Sandra (South) won with the Queen and had to decide how to proceed. As there were four certain tricks in diamonds that was the best choice for a continuation. On the fourth diamond from South, discards were needed from the other three hands. West could afford a spade, North a club, but East had to let a heart go. Declarer then did best by playing the King of clubs from dummy and, when the Queen appeared, the Ace. West won the third club and could switch to hearts. The defence could take three hearts, but East then only had one heart and one spade left. There were two heart winners waiting in dummy and the Ace of spades and the fourth club in hand. Nine tricks were made for 600. Please don’t tell Sandra, but 5C makes eleven tricks for the same score with a lot less trouble.
If would like to learn more about how all this works, please ring Neil Bonnell on 0408 361 482 for information about free lessons.
Results: Monday, 30/05/22 (2 & 1/2 Howell) J. Nankervis P. Kelly (62.5) 1; R. Hart N. McGinness (57.1) 2. Australia-Wide Novice Pairs heat: L Munson S. Head (58.3) 1; B. Reid J. McKeen (52.5) 2 eq. C. Duggan D. Dawes (52.5) 2 eq. Friday, 03/06/22 (4 & 1/2 table Howell): T. Hinde J. Mobbs (62.5) 1; N. Bonnell B. Bonnell (60.4) 2.
