Comedian and actor Joe E. Lewis said, "I've been on such a losing streak that if I had been around, I would have taken General Custer and given points."
At the bridge table, do you take the points or would you prefer a good fit?
Well, obviously you would like both, but the better the fit, the fewer points you need to rake in lots of tricks. Fit is fantastic; misfit is miserable.
Look at the East hand in the diagram. Your left-hand opponent opens one heart, partner overcalls two diamonds, and the responder on your right passes. What would you do, if anything?
This deal occurred during a women's international match many years ago.
At one table, East advanced with two no-trump. If one cannot bear to pass, that is as good as anything, giving partner a little room to maneuver. West went back to three diamonds — what do you think of that?
Three diamonds ended the bidding and went down one.
West's three-diamond bid was, if you will excuse the understatement, ghastly! East's two no-trump ought to have promised some diamond fit. West should have raised to three no-trump, expecting her partner to cruise home.
At the other table, Fritzi Gordon, East for Great Britain, passed. Then, when South was still there with two hearts (which was awful also!), Gordon delightedly doubled. This went down four, declarer dropping a trick in the play.
Passing smoothly with a good hand when you and your partner have a misfit may reap an unexpected windfall if an opponent cannot resist bidding once too often.
At the bridge table, do you take the points or would you prefer a good fit?
Well, obviously you would like both, but the better the fit, the fewer points you need to rake in lots of tricks. Fit is fantastic; misfit is miserable.
Look at the East hand in the diagram. Your left-hand opponent opens one heart, partner overcalls two diamonds, and the responder on your right passes. What would you do, if anything?
This deal occurred during a women's international match many years ago.
At one table, East advanced with two no-trump. If one cannot bear to pass, that is as good as anything, giving partner a little room to maneuver. West went back to three diamonds — what do you think of that?
Three diamonds ended the bidding and went down one.
West's three-diamond bid was, if you will excuse the understatement, ghastly! East's two no-trump ought to have promised some diamond fit. West should have raised to three no-trump, expecting her partner to cruise home.
At the other table, Fritzi Gordon, East for Great Britain, passed. Then, when South was still there with two hearts (which was awful also!), Gordon delightedly doubled. This went down four, declarer dropping a trick in the play.
Passing smoothly with a good hand when you and your partner have a misfit may reap an unexpected windfall if an opponent cannot resist bidding once too often.