LEARNING CENTER

Double. The reopening double shows either short spades or a good hand. It is not for penalty. If partner passes, he will have good spades and you will set them. Usually, partner will take it out. You are too strong to bid only 3 (but not strong enough to bid 4).

3. Don't leave partner in clubs; your hearts are quite rebiddable. This sequence (double then bidding) is strong. Partner will know you have a hand like this.

Win and cross to dummy in hearts to play diamonds.
There is no reason to hold up (maybe West has 7 spades and East trumps the next one). Holding up can't gain anything.

You have to lose at least one spade, one club and one diamond. You will need some luck. That means East must have the A and at least one high diamond. Based on West's preempt, this is a reasonable chance.

However, you have to be very careful with your 2 trump entries to dummy.

If you use the first one to play a club to your king, you'll have only 1 more entry to potentially take 2 diamond finesses.

2. This is tough to see, but crucial.

Look at the remaining position as I explain it:

If you lead the 10, it loses to West. Then you remain with only one entry to take another diamond finesse and/or lead up to the K. No good.

But, if you lead the 2 to the J, you miraculously create the extra needed entry. West will win and likely play spades. You carefully trump high and cross to the 8. Then you lead the 10 (the 109 remain in dummy) for a finesse. It wins (it does East no good to cover). You are still in dummy and can play a club.

This was the full deal:

By carefully taking advantage of dummy's 8 and 109, you have the entries to do everything you need to do to make a hard-earned +620.

Thank you for attending this (difficult) webinar on Not Painting Yourself Into a Corner at Suit Contracts.