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Posted on Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 5 a.m.

Bridge column, July 31: Sometimes a fit isn't everything

By Phillip Alder

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Gene Fowler, a journalist, author and dramatist who died in 1960, said, "The best way to become a successful writer is to read good writing, remember it, and then forget where you remember it from."

To become a successful bridge player, one needs to remember everything that has happened thus far in a deal.

Last week, we looked at bidding aggressively with a good fit. Yesterday's deal was the antithesis of that -- with no fit, underbid. What about today's deal? Look at the South hand. He opens one spade, West overcalls two hearts, North raises to two spades, and East passes. What should South do now?

Note East's good pass. Although he has nine points, he hates hearts and his hand is defensive, not offensive, in nature.

Now to South's rebid. If West had passed, it would be reasonable to rebid three hearts, trying to get to game if partner has a fit for both majors. But West's two-heart overcall should ring a warning bell. What will South do with all of his heart losers, especially with East waiting to overruff the dummy?

South should pass.

Then West should also pass. He said his piece with two hearts.

Against two spades, West leads the king of diamonds. South will probably win with dummy's ace, play a heart to his ace, and ruff a heart. East overruffs and returns a diamond. South trumps and ruffs another heart. East overruffs again and returns a trump to stop a third heart ruff. Now South loses two spades, two hearts and two clubs for down one. Even two spades is too high.

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