My wife just got a job in the video game industry. I was jealous that she can spend her work time playing games on her phone as “research”. Then she reminded me that I work in the bridge world.

There’s a lot of unglamorous work behind the scenes at Bridge with Larry Cohen where I work, but I do occasionally get to play a game for a living. I also sometimes watch vugraph when there is high level bridge going on (particularly if my family is involved). If Larry asks—this is all “research”.

For example, this deal from the US Team Trials has some great lesson points for newer players.

You are South, none vul, playing IMPS (so you want to make your contract).

You pick up:

AK6
AKJ
A97
K643

With 22 HCP and a balanced hand, the bidding path is to open 2 and rebid 2NT. Since opening 2NT directly shows 20-21, this sequence shows the next higher range. Partner can still use Stayman, Transfers, Texas, Gerber, etc. as if we opened 1NT or 2NT.

The full auction:

West	North	East	South
			2
Pass	2	Pass	2NT
Pass	3	Pass	3
Pass	3NT	All Pass

Note: Our response to Stayman remains the same as well, rebid 3 (not 3NT!).

The lead is the Q.

When dummy comes down, we count our quick tricks in 3NT. We have two spade tricks, four heart tricks, two diamond tricks, and no club tricks. We need one more trick.

We see that the K gives us a chance, but the problem is that if West has the A, we’ll be out of luck. There’s another chance; Diamonds could be 3-3 (or you might find the QJ appearing).

The key to bridge is to know which thing to play for. There is a great series of books by Eddie Kantar called “Take all Your Chances” which gets at the heart of the issue. The goal is not to know which thing to play for (a finesse is more likely than a 3-3 split), but to figure out that on this deal can try both IF you play for the 3-3 split first.

Look at what will happen. Hold up one round (it can’t hurt for West to be on lead). Then win the spade continuation. Play three or four rounds of hearts, ending in dummy. Next lead a diamond towards your A97. Whatever East plays, you cover. Here, East plays low and we can put in the 9. West wins and clears out your last spade stopper as you throw a club from dummy.

Next you get to test diamonds. When they are 3-3, you are home with your 9 tricks: two spades, four hearts, and three diamonds. If diamonds do not create your 9th trick, you can fall back on the club finesse (or, possibly, an endplay).

The key to bridge is in the planning at the beginning of the deal. You need one extra trick and there are two chances. You have to figure out IF there is some way to take both chances. If you try a club finesse and it fails, the defense will be able to take a lot of tricks in clubs and spades either now or after you try diamonds. Try it out.

The full deal:

Vul:None Dlr: S	74 Q1093 K1032 985
QJ98 86 Q54 AQJ10		10532 7542 J86 72
	AK6 AKJ A97 K643