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More Declarer Play The Bergen Way

 
 
   
 

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Bergenisms - Index to More Declarer Play the Bergen Way


Chapter 10: Surviving Bad Splits ..................................... 107

 

Chapter 11

Sizing Up the Situation

© 2006 - Marty Bergen


Page 119
Sizing Up the Situation

A Sensible 3-Card Raise

Contract: 4
Lead:
2
   North
K Q J
8 7 5 4
2
A K 7 5 3
     
 
 
       South
A 9 6 5 3
A
Q 10 9 7

10 8 2
   

West   North   East     South

   --      1     Pass       1

Pass     2      Pass      4

All Pass

North was delighted to raise spades with his excellent 3-card support, and you wasted no time jumping to the major-suit game.

You win the opening trump lead with the jack, as East drops the 10.

Question 1: Are you more interested in dummy’s short diamond suit, or long club suit?

Question 2: Which 10 tricks are you hoping to win?

Question 3: What would you lead at trick 2?
 

© 2006- Marty Bergen


Page 121
Sizing Up the Situation

Question 1: Are you more interested in dummy’s long club suit, or short diamond suit?

Answer: Definitely clubs. If you lead a diamond, E-W can stop dummy from trumping two diamonds by leading a second trump. In addition, you lack the 8, so trying to ruff two diamonds with dummy’s spade honors would create a trump loser.

Question 2: What 10 tricks are you hoping to win?

Answer: Five spades, four clubs, and one heart. All you need is for clubs to divide 3-2.

Question 3: What would you lead at trick 2?

Answer: A low club. You need to develop dummy’s club suit, but must keep trumps in dummy to ensure that the defense can’t take too many diamond tricks. By remembering to “lose your losers early,” you set up clubs while keeping control of diamonds, and maintain communication between the two hands.

East wins the Q and leads a heart, which is as good as anything. You win the A and lead a club towards the A K – just in case West started with a singleton club. West follows, so you play the A and East also follows. Great, you are now all set. Cash dummy’s K Q. Although East discards two hearts, you are not concerned about the 4-1 trump split.

 

© 2006- Marty Bergen


Page 121
Sizing Up the Situation

You ruff a heart to your hand, draw West’s last trump and lead a club and take your 10 tricks.

Here is the entire deal:

Contract: 4
Lead:
2
   North
K Q J
8 7 5 4
2
A K 7 5 3
     West
8 7 4 2
K J 9
A J 8 4
J 4
     East
10
Q 10 6 3 2
K 6 5 3
Q 9 6

 
 
       South
A 9 6 5 3
A
Q 10 9 7

10 8 2
   


© 2006 - Marty Bergen


Chapter 12: Everyone Deserves A Second Chance ........... 127


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