Every fair-sized city has an ACBL-affiliated club that offers duplicate bridge games.
The rewards of duplicate are many. You can rate your skill by comparing results with others who played the same deal. You can enjoy the thrill of doing well at a challenging pastime — and win masterpoints. The biggest benefit, I think, is making friends with people who share an appreciation for the beauties of the game.
Suppose you’re today’s South at 4♠. Your contract is safe, but at duplicate you would like an overtrick or two. How do you play?
| Dlr: South | ♠ 3 2 | |||||||||||||
| Vul: N-S | ♥ Q 4 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ A 6 5 4 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ 8 7 6 3 2 | ||||||||||||||
| ♠ 9 7 | ♠ J 6 4 | |||||||||||||
| ♥ K 10 8 2 | ♥ 9 7 6 3 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ Q 10 3 2 | ♦ K J 9 | |||||||||||||
| ♣ J 5 4 | ♣ K 10 9 | |||||||||||||
| ♠ A K Q 10 8 5 | ||||||||||||||
| ♥ A J 5 | ||||||||||||||
| ♦ 8 7 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ A Q | ||||||||||||||
|
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Opening lead — ♠9
Club Finesse
Lead a diamond to dummy at trick two and return the ♥4 to your jack. If the finesse won, you could take the ace, ruff a heart in dummy and try the club finesse. When West has the ♥K and leads a second trump, you draw trumps and reach dummy with the ♥Q for the club finesse.
Duplicate is fun. To locate a club in your area, see acbl.org. Many clubs offer games for players at all levels.
Daily Question
You hold:
♠3 2
♥Q 4
♦A 6 5 4
♣8 7 6 3 2
Your partner opens 1♠, you respond 1NT, he bids 2♥ and you return to 2♠. Partner then bids 3♦. What do you say?