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Bridge by Steve Becker for Aug. 14

By STEVE BECKER 2 min read

1. Four notrump. Slam is a near certainty -- you have 17 high-card points instead of the 13 you might have had for your first two bids, and strong trumps. The chief purpose of the Blackwood bid is to cover the possibility that partner has no aces. You plan to bid six clubs if partner shows either one or two aces.

Alternatively, you could bid six clubs over four, which is a less scientific but more definitive choice. This would not bar partner from going on to a grand slam if he has the ace of spades, A-K of hearts and king of clubs.

2. Pass. You've made two slam tries, and partner has turned a deaf ear to both of them. If you have faith in partner, you must pass, as you have no values beyond those you've already expressed. You should assume that he is as anxious to reach a slam as you are, and his two discouraging rebids make it clear that there is only a game in the combined hands.

3. Four hearts. Obviously, partner has a skimpy opening bid and a lot of hearts. But just as obviously, your hand is too good to justify a less-than-game contract, so the only problem is to find the best spot.

With partner having bid hearts three times, indicating at least six or seven of them, your 8-3 constitutes adequate trump support. You could bid three notrump, but four hearts rates to be a safer contract.

Tomorrow: No way out.

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