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The American Contract Bridge League’s Spring Championships start a week from Friday in Philadelphia. The ACBL, which promotes all types of bridge with a focus on competition, runs hundreds of tournaments yearly as well as local club games. Philadelphia is hosting one of three 10-day “Nationals.”
ACBL tournaments are for everyone. There will be events and activities for players at all levels.
Tournament play improves your game and measures your progress. Doing well is exhilarating, but you need good technique. Say you play at 3NT as today’s South, and West leads the ♠Q, won by your ace.
| Dlr: South | ♠ A 4 | |||||||||
| Vul: N-S | ♥ Q 6 5 | |||||||||
| ♦ K 7 5 | ||||||||||
| ♣ 9 8 6 4 2 | ||||||||||
| ♠ Q J 10 8 7 | ♠ 9 6 5 2 | |||||||||
| ♥ A 10 8 3 | ♥ 9 7 2 | |||||||||
| ♦ 8 6 3 | ♦ J 10 9 | |||||||||
| ♣ J | ♣ K Q 7 | |||||||||
| ♠ K 3 | ||||||||||
| ♥ K J 4 | ||||||||||
| ♦ A Q 4 2 | ||||||||||
| ♣ A 10 5 3 | ||||||||||
|
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Opening lead — ♠Q
Top Tricks
You have six top tricks and need three more before West can use his spades. If the missing clubs break 2-2, you can get three extra club tricks. If clubs break 3-1, you can succeed by losing a heart to the ace and finding a 3-3 diamond break.
Test the diamonds. If they break 3-3, force out the ♥A. If not, play clubs and hope for good luck there.
Daily Question
You hold: ♠A 4 ♥Q 6 5 ♦K 7 5 ♣9 8 6 4 2.
Your partner opens 1♠, you respond 1NT, he bids 2♥ and you return to 2♠. Partner then bids 2NT. What do you say?