Column 7B88 (2-9-86) by Richard Pavlicek

Cagey Bidding Nets Reward

The late John Crawford, one of the shrewdest bridge players of all time, was famous (perhaps infamous) for his clever bidding tactics. For example, as dealer he once picked up nine spades headed by the ace-king and… he passed! The bidding was opened in fourth seat by his right-hand opponent and then… he passed again! When the opponents finally reached four hearts, he backed in with four spades. This was promptly doubled, probably on general principles, and he made it up for a top board. Everyone else holding his hand opened the bidding, usually with four spades, and the opponents were stampeded into bidding at the five level. Crawford’s strategy, in theory, was inferior to the preemptive approach; but it often succeeds in practice if used sparingly. It pays to mix ‘em up once in a while.

Alan Kleist of Ft. Lauderdale employed this tactic on today’s deal, which occurred last Sunday at the Pompano Beach Bridge Club in a Grand National Teams qualifying game. Kleist, South, passed as dealer and then overcalled three diamonds after West opened a weak two-bid and East responded in spades. At his next turn he bid five diamonds — the contract he had in mind all along — and East ended the auction with a double.

5 x by South

E-W Vul
J 10 9 3
A 10 7 4 2
J
Q 9 4
K 8 2
K Q J 8 6 5
9
7 5 3 [W - E] A Q 7 6 5 4
9
K Q 7
K J 8
Lead: K —
3
A 10 8 6 5 4 3 2
A 10 6 2

West

2
3
Pass North

Pass
Pass
Pass East

2
4
Dbl South
Pass
3
5
All Pass

Five diamonds is by no means a laydown, but Kleist found a way to make it. The spade lead was ruffed and dummy was entered with a heart to lead a low club; jack; ace. A club was returned to the queen and king, and East led another spade which South ruffed. A low club was led to dummy’s nine, then a diamond through East held him to one trump trick.

East could defeat the contract by playing low on the first club lead, as this prevents a later entry to dummy. Curiously, the only way to succeed against perfect defense is for declarer to lead the club 10 from his hand at trick two.

Kleist’s team, which included Ed Silver, John Lyddon and Jim Long, led the qualifiers with a perfect record.

Return to Main

E-W Vul	J 10 9 3 A 10 7 4 2 J Q 9 4
K 8 2 K Q J 8 6 5 9 7 5 3		A Q 7 6 5 4 9 K Q 7 K J 8
Lead: K	— 3 A 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 A 10 6 2