Jim returns for another installment.

WHAT TO LEAD

The following hand will test your analytical skills. In second seat, you hold: S-Q109x, H-xxx, D-KJ10x, C-Kx. RHO deals and opens ! NT (11-14 HCP), you pass, LHO bids 2 NT (11+), and after partner passes, RHO bids 3 NT which is the final contract. You analyze the bidding: N-S have about 25 HCP, LHO doesn’t have a 4-card major (no Stayman), and partner can’t have much more than 5-6 HCP, If you are playing coded tens and nines, the D10 works. But if partner has a high spade honor, your two minor suit kings may give you two entries and three spade tricks set the contract. You lead your fourth best spade and dummy has: S-xxx, H-AKQ, D-xx, C-QJ109x. Declarer wins the spade lead with the Jack (nice lead) then plays ace and another club which you win per force. You know RHO can easily get to dummy with a heart to run the clubs. RHO must hold the SA and SK - that’s 12 points - so the most RHO holds is the DQ. Using that logic, you lead your fourth best diamond and pray. Partner tables the DA and follows with the DQ. Taking no chances, you overtake with the king and cash two more diamonds for down one. Any other lead, after the CK wins, gives declarer the contract.

JUST SIT THERE

On a sunny day in Brooksville, I am partnered with Linda Reeder, one of the nicest people you will ever meet and an excellent bridge player. In third seat, both red, I hold: S-Axxx, H-AQxx, D-x, C-Axxx. Linda deals and passes and Marion Ellingsen opens 1 Diamond. I am about to double when I take a page out of the Charlotte Kartsonis playbook and I pass. Why? My partner has passed so game is dubious and I am not going to give an excellent player like Marion any more information than is required. Charlotte bids 1 Spade and Marion offers 2 Hearts (a reverse showing 17+ HCP). I pat myself on the back mentally for keeping my big mouth shut and Charlotte bids 3 Hearts. Marion bids the game and I want to double so bad I can taste it. But I resist the temptation and lead my singleton diamond. As Charlotte tables the dummy she says to me, “What, no club lead?” Then she gives me one of those famous Charlotte glares, sensing what my lead is. Dummy holds four hearts to the jack so I am assured of two trump tricks and two black aces. I also get a diamond ruff and down two is a cold top. When you play against the best, just sit there and be grateful for the result.

WAY TO GO ADAM

You may have noticed that Adam Kaplan has not played very often in the past few weeks - and with good reason, Adam is busy with school work: two days a week at St. Petersburg College for trigonometry and an on-line chemistry course as well as his regular class work administered by his mother. But his bridge game is as sharp as ever. In the just-completed NABC in Boston, Adam accumulated 57.74 points, not a bad showing for seven days of play. Adam paired up with a variety of players, winning a couple of Midnight Zips, and capturing the BCD Swiss event. I was in New England at the time but unfortunately Adam and I missed connections. I could use 57+ points - honest!

Sincerely, Jim Somma{easycomments}