Bridge

Eddie Kantar is one of the few world champions who have successfully translated their ability at the table onto the printed page. His latest book, “Kantar on Kontract,” is a collection of the best of his writings over the last 40 years and includes many deals with humorous and self-deprecating punch lines, as well as many informative tips.

For example, Kantar says that many players have no trouble at all deciding whether to overruff declarer or dummy if they can. They just do it. Those players had better take a look at the play of this four-spade contract.

South ruffed the opening lead and correctly attacked hearts at once, playing the ace-king and then ruffing a heart with the spade queen. East overtrumped with the king, but that was the end of the defense. With the remaining spades divided 2-2, South wound up losing only two spades and a diamond. Contract made.

Now let us see what happens if East does not overruff. Declarer really has to lead a spade from dummy to his jack and West’s ace. East gets two more spade tricks with the K-9, another trick with the diamond ace, and the contract is defeated by a trick.

What’s the rule? There is no single guiding principle that can be encapsulated in a phrase, but it is generally wrong to overtrump an honor if you would always make a trick with your honor — as here — especially if you also hold an intermediate spot card that might be promoted to a further trick.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Bid one club, not one diamond here. Whatever your partnership style in first or second seat, in third seat you should focus on bidding good suits to help partner on lead if the opponents buy the hand. Ask yourself, if you open one diamond, how happy you would be to see partner making the opening lead of an unsupported diamond honor!