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Posted on Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 5 a.m.

Bridge column, October 24: Points wane in contrast to tricks

By Philip Adler

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Bridge is a game of winners and losers. And once the final contract is chosen, each side knows how many winners it needs to avoid being a loser.

In today's deal, how should South try to take 10 winners in four spades doubled after West leads the diamond queen to declarer's ace?

The bidding was interesting. East was right to open one heart although his hand contained only 11 high-card points. The two five-card suits added considerable value. West's two-spade cue-bid showed heart support and game-invitational or better values. North's three-heart cue-bid was of the same ilk, inviting game in spades. Now East rebid four clubs, in case his side had a double fit and could win 10 or 11 tricks. South bid four spades as an each-way bet: Perhaps it would be a cheap save over four hearts, or it might make. And West, with short clubs, had no desire to go to the five-level. Instead, he doubled for penalty.

When the dummy came down, South could see several losers: one, two or three in spades, three in hearts and one in clubs. Clearly, declarer had to ruff some hearts in the dummy.

South immediately conceded a heart. East won, cashed his spade ace, and shifted to the club queen. Declarer won with his king, ruffed a heart on the board, threw a club on the diamond king, trumped a diamond, ruffed a heart, trumped a diamond, cashed the spade king, and claimed, conceding two spades and one club.

Can East-West defeat four spades? Buy tomorrow's newspaper.

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