In "King Lear," William Shakespeare wrote, "Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's out."
Who loses and who wins at the bridge table depends on many factors. But when you find a fit with your partner, think about the tricks you might lose and might win. If it seems that you do not have too many losers, go for game or slam — fortune favors the fearless.
Look at the South hand. You open one spade, partner raises to two spades, and your right-hand opponent overcalls three clubs. What would you rebid?
If you think only in terms of high-card points, you will say that you have 15 and partner has at most nine — insufficient for game. If — better — you include shortage points, your hand re-evaluates to 17, so you would make a game-try, perhaps rebidding three diamonds. If — best — you apply the Losing Trick Count, you will see only five losers and jump to four spades, expecting partner to cover two of those losers.
Now that you are in four spades, how would you handle the play? West leads a club. East wins two tricks in the suit, then shifts to the diamond jack. To your disappointment, West takes your king with his ace and returns a diamond. What now?
You must establish a long heart for a diamond discard. Cash the spade ace, then switch to hearts, taking your ace, crossing to dummy's king, and ruffing a low one high in your hand. Play a trump to dummy's jack, ruff another heart high, lead a spade to dummy's king, and discard your diamond two on the heart seven.
Who loses and who wins at the bridge table depends on many factors. But when you find a fit with your partner, think about the tricks you might lose and might win. If it seems that you do not have too many losers, go for game or slam — fortune favors the fearless.
Look at the South hand. You open one spade, partner raises to two spades, and your right-hand opponent overcalls three clubs. What would you rebid?
If you think only in terms of high-card points, you will say that you have 15 and partner has at most nine — insufficient for game. If — better — you include shortage points, your hand re-evaluates to 17, so you would make a game-try, perhaps rebidding three diamonds. If — best — you apply the Losing Trick Count, you will see only five losers and jump to four spades, expecting partner to cover two of those losers.
Now that you are in four spades, how would you handle the play? West leads a club. East wins two tricks in the suit, then shifts to the diamond jack. To your disappointment, West takes your king with his ace and returns a diamond. What now?
You must establish a long heart for a diamond discard. Cash the spade ace, then switch to hearts, taking your ace, crossing to dummy's king, and ruffing a low one high in your hand. Play a trump to dummy's jack, ruff another heart high, lead a spade to dummy's king, and discard your diamond two on the heart seven.