Vil's Christmas Wishes

Here is an interesting Double Dummy problem from a recent session, Friday 29 November.

Dealer N, NS Vul

T74
JT652
93
KJ7
AJ532
9
7542
T43
KQ986
Q843
QT
Q5
AK7
AKJ86
A9862

A few NS pairs did play this in 5C or 5D, making with overtricks. Good bidding was thus rewarded. No pair should be expected to bid a slam, so a minor suit game with two overtricks scored close to a 100%. But there were a couple of declarers in 5H, which, if it made, would have outscored the minor suit games with two overtricks, 650 against 640. Unfortunately the declarers in 5H failed miserably. Could you have done better?

Put yourself in the North seat and play 5H given the king of spades opening lead. I have a prize for the best answer, and you have all the holidays to work it out, it should not be too difficult!

Thank you all for your contributions to the posers. The coming holidays from bridge will give you time to refresh and maybe take on some new ideas with your partner. Why not do some reading? There is plenty on the 13Tricks.com web site and for hard copy books, both Tips and Quips and 13 Tricks will help you improve and add to your bridge knowledge and play; I have a special offer for anyone interested if they don’t have a copy already.

Best wishes for Christmas and the holiday period and Happy Bridging in 2020! Will your bridge vision also be 20-20? If you’re serious about better bridge and better results, I can help steer you in the right direction, drop me an email any time!

Vil
villyn@xtra.co.nz