Tips from Barnet Shenkin: Late Starter

My late father Louis was President of the SBU in 1964 and played for Scotland between 1948 and 1963 with his brother Lennie. 

My brother Alan is a retired Professor of Medicine. For most of his life he avoided bridge like the plague, perhaps due to some heated discussions that took place between family members!

He decided he had time to take up bridge at the age of eighty and three years later is very keen to improve. He is a member of the new and thriving Glasgow Bridge Centre which in just a year has over five hundred members.

 I often write in my column there, of the power of the shortage, and he showed how to utilise that with the following hand.

Dealer E EW Vulnerable

♠ AK874

♥ AK9

♦ KT852

♣ void

♠ T62

♥ J5

♦ Q943

♣ AK74

♠ J9

♥ T872

♦ J6

♣ QJ953

♠ Q53

♥ Q643

♦ A7

♣ T862

West	North	East	South
		Pass	Pass
Pass	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♠
Pass	4 ♣ (1)	Pass	4 ♦ (2)
Pass	6 ♠	All Pass	-

(1)  Shortage -  best chance of slam is to bid shortage 

(2)  Cue bid 

 Lead ♣Q 

His partner Jack Silverstone appreciated now the wastage in his club suit, and was happy to cue. The play was swift. Ruff the opening lead cash Q♠, A♠ and play three rounds of diamonds. Return with A♥ and draw last trump to concede a diamond - twelve tricks made. 

While this was a reasonable line – a better line was available. Draw no trumps but play three rounds of diamonds immediately. If they are 3-3, no problem. If East ruffs overruff with the Q back with a high trump to play the 4th diamond. As long as trumps split 3-2 or East has four with short diamonds Declarer is home.  

This is a good hand to demonstrate the power of a shortage in slam bidding. Also, for play tips- often it is best to postpone drawing trumps. Drawing trumps too early is a common mistake for students.

Perhaps the moral of the story is “Learn Play and Enjoy Bridge at any Age”