BRIDGE TIPS from MARJORIE MICHELIN GRAND LIFE MASTER

The DANGER Hand Do you recognize the DANGER HAND when you are Declarer? Do you know what an Avoidance play is? When you are playing a hand, if you can identify which opponent is dangerous to allow in the lead, avoid it if you can! You have a vulnerable holding such as K x (x) either in Dummy or in Declarer's hand. If you give the lead to an opponent who can lead through your K x, he/she could lead that suit so that his Partner can capture your King and leave the suit unprotected 3 NT Opening lead ♥2 ♠432 ♥ Q 10 8 6 2 ♦Q83 ♣10 2 Safe

♠AKJ9 ♥75 ♦K74 ♣J 9 7 3

♠ Q 10 7 ♥AJ3 ♦ A J 10 9 2 ♣A8

♠8 6 5 ♥K 9 4 ♦6 5 ♣K Q 6 5 4 Dangerous

In this example, the contract is 3NT. West leads a heart. • You do not hold up because your ♥J may be a winner and a potential ♥ stopper. • You can finesse either opponent for the ♦Q. East is the dangerous opponent (even though East does not have the long ♥s) because he/she can lead through your ♥J 3 (you won the first trick with the ♥A) • Hence you finesse East for the ♦Q because if it loses to West (who is safe), West can take a high ♥ but cannot run the suit before you take your 9 tricks: 4 ♠ + 1♥ + 4♦s + 1♣ = 10 tricks. Happy Fourth of July!! [email protected] ©2015