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Bridge 5/28
How well does your hand mesh?
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    Ted Nelson, a sociologist, philosopher and pioneer of information technology, said, "The difference between a great design and a lousy one is in the meshing of the thousand details that either fit or don't, and the spirit of the passionate intellect that has tied them together, or tried."
    The difference between a great bridge hand and a lousy one is in the meshing of its assets with partner's hand. Either it fits or it doesn't.
    Look at the North hand in the diagram. With both sides vulnerable, partner opens one spade, West passes, and so do you — or would you?
    East balances with a takeout double, partner rebids two hearts, and West competes with a three-club call. What would you do now, if anything?
    Your initial pass, with only three high-card points, looks impeccable, but it is tactically bad, making it much easier for your left-hand opponent to enter the auction. It is better to respond two spades, admittedly with fingers crossed!
    However, given that you did pass, partner was still there when he knew you might have a Yarborough — no card higher than a nine. Also, he bid a suit in which his right-hand opponent rates to have three or four cards. He must have a good hand and is probably 5-5 in the majors. You have four-card support for his first suit and an invaluable heart queen. You should confidently jump to four spades.
    Note that with this layout partner should have no trouble holding his losers to one spade, one heart and one club.
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