# Bridge: 7 No Trumps baby! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 9, 2016, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229 "2016-08-09T09:47:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/481 "2018-03-19T17:51:54Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Bump for Biotop to put us out of our misery :). I will try and get back to this after work, but here is a hint. Left-handed opp/opening leader might have stretched to open one spade. The puzzle was presented with both sides passing, but I think it is slightly easier to work out knowing this. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/482 "2018-03-19T18:26:34Z")
I’ve seen **Biotop** ’s problem before so I’m saying nowt. I had a complete disaster last Thursday. Fault on both sides, of course. Three that I remember: She took my 4NT response to a 1NT opening as Blackwood. We ended up 4 off in 6NT. Playing better minor she opened 1C instead of 1D on a 1-4-4-4 hand, so the bidding went 1C-1S-2D I had to go 3C to show suit preference. She then went 3H which I interpreted as 4th suit forcing and we ended up in 3N going down when we should have been in 2C. I disregarded the maxim of second hand plays low and my Ace of trumps dropped partner’s Queen. We missed bidding game on several occasions and a slam on one. A number of minor suit contracts should have been in NTs. We will do better this week. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/483 "2018-03-19T18:36:04Z")
Even I know a 4NT response to 1NT isn’t Blackwood, and I’m a hack (I’m not certain of the correct rebid - I think it’s raise to 6NT if maximum, otherwise pass?) so I’m surprised to hear that first one given the level you play at. I can only assume you are generously partnering someone to teach them the game. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/484 "2018-03-19T23:20:15Z")
My Monday-night partner was on form tonight and we were making sweet music and duly came top. Both of us made some tricky contracts and we took other contracts down, often making that crucial extra trick. Here’s a question for you: you are defending a NT contract and during play (NOT bidding) partner has signalled that he wants a particular suit. You have a singleton King in that suit. Should you lead it? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/485 "2018-03-19T23:46:39Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Here’s a question for you: you are defending a NT contract and during play (NOT bidding) partner has signalled that he wants a particular suit. You have a singleton King in that suit. Should you lead it? Probably. What could partner have that he wants this suit led. Certainly a couple of honors and give your shortness length. If he has something QJTxx, you want to lead it to try to force out the A so he can cash his tricks. He’ll be disappointed when you don’t continue, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/486 "2018-03-20T03:32:30Z")
One more hint on the bridge problem I posed above: It is from the classic book _Right through the Pack_. That book gives you 52 bridge hands and stories. The gimmicks is that each story is told by a different one the playing cards, and the card telling the story is usually an integral part of the play. The above tale is the first one in the book… and it is told by **the eight of diamonds**. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/487 "2018-03-20T10:07:49Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Probably. What could partner have that he wants this suit led. Certainly a couple of honors and give your shortness length. If he has something QJTxx, you want to lead it to try to force out the A so he can cash his tricks. He’ll be disappointed when you don’t continue, of course. In this case partner has Axxx. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/488 "2018-03-20T10:48:31Z")
Well, surely if you know he has Axxx you don’t want to lead it. Seems like it doesn’t gain a trick for your side. On the other hand, it probably doesn’t cost a trick either. But what is the point of leading it in that situation? It’s unlikely to drop the Q or J, whereas if you’re sitting to the right of one of them it could be a nasty surprise for declarer. Personally I’d find something else, partner will soon see why you didn’t follow the signal. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/489 "2018-03-20T11:46:49Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Here’s a question for you: you are defending a NT contract and during play (NOT bidding) partner has signalled that he wants a particular suit. You have a singleton King in that suit. Should you lead it? I prefer to view it as partner having shown values in a particular suit. It is then up to you to decide whether it is right to switch to that suit in the context of your own holding and what you know about the rest of the hand. Hence I cannot answer as to whether I would play the king in your particular situation. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/490 "2018-03-20T12:04:25Z")
Solution for Biotop’s problem: EUB unf gjb-sbhe-sbhe-guerr qvfgevohgvba naq ab pneq uvture guna na Rvtug. Jva Fcnqr Npr; Qvnzbaq Wnpx naq Npr; Urneg Xvat naq Npr; Qvnzbaq Xvat naq Rvtug, cvgpuvat fcnqrf; naq ehss n fcnqr. Jva Pyho Xvat. Gjb gbc Urnegf jvyy fdhrrmr YUB va gur oynpx fhvgf. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/491 "2018-03-20T12:29:53Z")
This is probably the only time I will be able to decode something you have posted without help - thanks for making it simple enough for me! Well, I say without help - once I spotted what it was, I used [this](https://www.dcode.fr/caesar-cipher) neat website to speed things up considerably. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/492 "2018-03-22T23:38:12Z")
We did much better tonight. We came second last, but scored 47%. One hand was of particular interest. Partner is dealer and passes. RHO bids 2​:spades: (weak). I was sitting with 24 HCP. ♠ KTx ❤ AQ ♦ AKQJx ♣ KQx. What would you bid? I took a punt at 3NT which was passed out and made 6. Partner has ♠ Qx ❤ KJT98 ♦ xxx ♣ Axx. Getting there after a 2♣ opening is trivial (2♣ 2♥ 2N 6N) but what about after the opening 2♠? BTW 6♥ fails as the trumps are split 6-0! ---
**Author:** ![merrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@merrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrick)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/493 "2018-03-23T23:30:12Z")
Not the most scientific, but what’s wrong with P-(2S)-Dbl-4H-4NT-5H-6NT? Dealer has more than enough to go to game opposite a double of 2S, and Blackwood does the rest. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/494 "2018-03-29T00:40:10Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Solution for Biotop’s problem: > > EUB unf gjb-sbhe-sbhe-guerr qvfgevohgvba naq ab pneq uvture guna na Rvtug. Jva Fcnqr Npr; Qvnzbaq Wnpx naq Npr; Urneg Xvat naq Npr; Qvnzbaq Xvat naq Rvtug, cvgpuvat fcnqrf; naq ehss n fcnqr. Jva Pyho Xvat. Gjb gbc Urnegf jvyy fdhrrmr YUB va gur oynpx fhvgf. Decoding: RHO has two-four-four-three distribution and no card higher than an Eight. Win Spade Ace; Diamond Jack and Ace; Heart King and Ace; Diamond King and Eight, pitching spades; and ruff a spade. Win Club King. Two top Hearts will squeeze LHO in the black suits I don’t get this. Makes sense if you have AQ of diamonds however. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/495 "2018-03-29T01:02:33Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Decoding: RHO has two-four-four-three distribution and no card higher than an Eight. Win Spade Ace; Diamond Jack and Ace; Heart King and Ace; Diamond King and Eight, pitching spades; and ruff a spade. Win Club King. Two top Hearts will squeeze LHO in the black suits > I don’t get this. Makes sense if you have AQ of diamonds however. The post describing the problem gives your hand first, then underneath it shows partner’s hand, dummy. This suggests that the hand with AJ diamonds is yours, but it is not - it is in dummy. Hence as RHO has no card higher than an eight, you can play a diamond to dummy and finesse LHO’s queen. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/496 "2018-03-29T01:05:50Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Here’s one of my favorite hands from a bridge book: > > You have a novice overbidding partner and your opponents are sound. You wind up declaring a 7 hearts grand slam with this: > > S: A74 > H: AJ93 > D: K842 > C: K3 > > Neither opp bid. The lead is the spade king and partner tables this: > > S: 653 > H: K42 > D: AJ > C: A9542 > > ++++ > > Time to find a new partner. Ugh. You are going to need to find an improbable favorable lie of the cards to make this silly grand slam. But even if you get very lucky that way, how can you do it? Your opponents are good, so they will not misplay. > [@K364](#): > > Decoding: RHO has two-four-four-three distribution and no card higher than an Eight. Win Spade Ace; Diamond Jack and Ace; Heart King and Ace; Diamond King and Eight, pitching spades; and ruff a spade. Win Club King. Two top Hearts will squeeze LHO in the black suits > I don’t get this. Makes sense if you have AQ of diamonds however. West held: S: KQ982 H: QT D: QJ9 C: QJT East held: S:JT H: 8765 D: 7653 C:K3 ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/497 "2018-03-29T01:24:38Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > West held: > > S: KQ982 > H: QT > D: QJ9 > C: QJT > > East held: > > S:JT > H: 8765 > D: 7653 > C:K3 That’s not right. You have given E/W some cards that N/S hold and East has 12 cards. I think West has: KQJT9 QT QT9 QJT East has: 82 8765 7653 876 This fits the answer that RHO has no card higher than an 8, although it looks to me that the squeeze when RHO has any doubleton spade (in addition to all the other holdings), so can have spades higher than the 8. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/498 "2018-03-29T02:18:06Z")
Sorry. Corrected: West: S: KQ982 H: QT D: QT9 C: QJT East: S: JT H: 8765 D: 7653 C: 876 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/499 "2018-03-29T09:15:23Z")
> [@merrick](#): > > Not the most scientific, but what’s wrong with P-(2S)-Dbl-4H-4NT-5H-6NT? Yes, you’re right. I should have tried that. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229/500 "2018-03-29T15:35:22Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Sorry. Corrected: > > West: > S: KQ982 > H: QT > D: QT9 > C: QJT > > East: > > S: JT > H: 8765 > D: 7653 > C: 876 I thought that the only way to bring in 13 tricks is to take: 4 trumps, 4 diamonds, A spades, spade ruff (after discarding two spades on diamonds), A and K of clubs… which is 12 tricks and then a spade/club squeeze for the 13 trick. Don’t see how you are going to do that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-7-no-trumps-baby/762229.md?page=26)