North Penn Bridge News

Greetings to the

North Penn Bridge Community!

Week of 03/21/2022

From the Club Manager

Dave Dodgson

Hello from the NABC in Reno! It’s a nice venue and it’s been fun to play here. Our bridge club is well represented. Special congratulations to Lisa Mita and Alison Shoemaker! They finished third in the 0-10,000 Knockout Teams. Alison was the leading points winner with 54.90 points.

Other members who have received points (through Friday) are Deb Crisfield, John Dickenson, Dave Dodgson, Dave Dresher, Gary Hillenbrand, Paul Irvine and Susan Morse. (Apologies to anyone I missed.)

March Schedule:

March 23 - Shuffle and Deal 9:30-11:30 a.m.

March 27 – Bobbie Gomer Memorial Team Event. KOPBC has set a March 24 sign up deadline for planning purposes. Please register your team with Andy Rosenberg at andyr4@verizon.net with copy to Ken Salter at kensalter@verizon.net.

March 28-April 1 – Don’t miss the Super club championships - triple normal points.

Although we are no longer requiring masks, we ask that all be mindful of the health concerns of others and show courtesy and respect for fellow players while at the table.

Calendar

Click here to see a file you can enlarge.

Education

Two more beginners needed for the Spring Bridge Classes with Deb Crisfield starting Thursday, April 21 and running through June 9.

Please talk to your friends about giving it a try. The first three classes are free, so there’s no obligation to stay if they don't like it.

Recruitment is the key to growing and sustaining our club.

Recognition

March ACBL Rank Achievements:

-----Ellie Goldman -- Diamond Life Master

-----Belle Miller -- NABC Master

We update our Facebook page regularly so be sure to check it out. It’s a great way to stay in touch with all the happenings at North Penn.

Tidbits

“As soon as you are aware of the correct contract, bid it forthwith. Do not take partner - and the opponents - on a scenic tour to see all the wonders of your hand if the final destination is known. It is necessary to give partner information when you are not yet certain of the best spot, but once you do know, it is best to go straight to it.”

From 100 Winning Bridge Tips

by Ron Klinger

Deal of the Week

by John Dickenson

Don't Be A Blockhead!

One of the concepts that is hard for beginning players to grasp is unblocking on defense. With a doubleton honor like Ax in partner’s suit, it is almost always correct to play the ace when your partner

leads the king. My students fight me on this, saying “I don’t want to put my ace on her king”, to which I usually reply, “Oh, do you want to wait and play your ace on her queen?”

Consider the following deal:

Playing in a 2 session Open Pairs at the Reno NABC, I sat North and opened 1S in first chair, the young pro on my left preempted 3H, and partner scraped up a 3S raise, and the client passed. I only have 12 high card points, but I have a terrific playing hand with 3 aces, all “prime cards”, and a 7 bagger, so I bid on to 4S.

Opening lead was the heart queen and I counted my losers. Perhaps a spade, a heart, a diamond, and two clubs. I was going to need some luck. A holding in the enemy suit of Ax opposite two small is ideal for an endplay, as declarer can win the first trick and later throw them in with their own suit, at the same time eliminating hearts. I played low from dummy and the client played low from Kx! I won the ace and crossed my fingers and cashed the trump ace. Good news there, as trumps split 1-1. Now I exited with a heart and the client was forced to win with his now stiff king. Stripped of the major suits, at this point he is endplayed, and his best tactic to to cash the club ace and exit a club – I will have to lose a diamond for making 10 tricks. Instead the client led a low diamond! Now it is certainly ludicrous to play your preempting partner for a side ace when the opponents are in game, you hold a 14 count, and partner has already shown up with 4 points (partner has played the heart queen and spade jack, and must hold the heart jack for his lead). I ducked the diamond to the jack and queen, came to hand with the diamond ace, and reentered dummy with a trump. Upon leading a low diamond from

dummy, the client for some reason put up the 9 spot which I ruffed. Now it was a simple matter to score 12 tricks for a 24 on a 25 top.

Consider the case where the client correctly plays the heart king at trick one, unblocking the suit. After I pull trump in one round, the pro will win my heart exit and can lead a club through dummy’s Kx, three tricks for the defense. Now the client will be endplayed and will have to lead from the diamond king or concede a ruff and sluff, but I would only score 10 tricks.

Moral of the story: when holding Ax in partner’s suit and partner leads king, strongly consider making the unblocking play. Same if holding Kx and partner leads Q. And consider who you want to be on lead – the client’s club holding over dummy shouted out that he wanted his partner to win the second heart.