Sunday, November 06, 2005 8:05 PM

Fill in the Blanks

PITBULLS:

In the game of Bridge , there is a game within a game. For the lack of a better term lets call this game “fill in the blanks” . There are 4 main rules to this game which we will discuss below. Opening leads are the first rule in the fill in the blanks game. You lead 4^th best or 5^th best to allow partner to fill in the blanks. Using patterns that we have thoroughly memorized by now , you must train your self to apply them in this game. Luckily the rules of the game of Bridge simplifies this task. There is a hand called a “dummy” which has all 13 cards exposed. You are allowed to look at this dummy and use the information to help fill in the blanks. I was playing with a Tormentee against 4♥ . I led a card which held the trick and then switched to the spade Q . The dummy had 5 small spades and the Tormentee held AJ10xx . Which spade do you play ? OK fill in the blanks time. I am looking at 5 spades in my hand and 5 on the dummy so the pattern is 5-5-2-1 or 5-5-3-0 . Partner would not lead the queen from 3 so that pattern is out. It is obviously 5-5-2-1 . If it is partner with the Qx , then declarer has a stiff King . You go up Ace and give partner a ruff when there is no king under your Ace. Simple application of patterns.

The opponents are in 2♠ vul after a Tormentee has overcalled 1NT . I lead the diamond King and the boards diamonds are Q109x and the Tormentee held AJxx. The Tormentee played a small diamond so I continued and her jack won. What now ? Apply a pattern to fill in the blanks . 4-4-3-2 and partner obviously has the two with his opening lead. Accordingly you cash the diamond Ace and give partner a trump uppercut by continuing the 4th diamond. The Tormentee did not play the pattern game & switched so we lost our diamond trick ! +200 would have been a cold top and an opportunity squandered.

The 3^rd example occurred recently when I was playing with an experienced but non expert player. She led the heart Q from QJ98 against 2NT . The board held these beautiful heart spots 3456 . I won the Ace and returned the 10 which declarer ducked. She saw that the ten was holding the trick so left me hold it to continue the suit. Unfortunately by the law of 13 cards I had no more to return. Applying patterns to fill in the blanks 4-4-3-2 so it is a simple mater to overtake and float declarers stiff King. This would have switched a bottom to a very good result.

There are other ways you can play this fill in the blanks game. Declarer’s bidding or partner’s bidding allows the clues to help fill in the blanks. When the opponents opens a spade and rebid hearts you have a great start in playing the fill in the blanks game. 5-4-?-? so do it ! You can not defend properly or declare properly or bid properly without playing this game ! Especially when you are defending and you have extreme shortness or extreme length in their trump suit. When you have the length , it twigs you to apply the patterns because you are looking at them. However when you have shortness , partner may have length so applying patterns by your side is just as important ! Partner held Axx 1098x void J109xxx and I opened 1♠ and we competed up to 3♠ and then passed out 4♦. The board came down with AK10x of diamonds. Even though you are void in trump, you can still play this fill in the blanks game. Partner may have 4 trump with a 5-4-4-0 pattern around the table ! This should assist you in your defense as partner would probably like declarer to be tapped out she they lose control of the hand. This would have set 4♦.

The next way to play this game legally is when somebody shows out of a suit. This simple act allows you the opportunity to apply a pattern. Do not let the opportunity slip by. This is the most natural “discovery play” in the game of Bridge. You have 3 and the dummy has 2 and partner shows out in the 2^nd round of the suit. Pattern please ! 7-3-2-1 so declarer has a 7 card suit which allows you to defend the hand properly. If you are declaring the hand the information is just as useful. This means that missing queens should be in the other hand because there are more of that suit in that hand. Fill in the blanks !

The 4^rd and last way we can legally play this fill in the blanks game by using patterns is by signaling. Following suit signaling and discard signally either while defending or as declarer. Partner shows count and you filling in the blanks. This is the best defense against the dreaded pseudo squeeze or the real squeeze for that matter. There are 6 diamonds to the jack on the board and declarer is in 4♠ . Declarer can not get to the board so she starts running her solid spade suit . You have Kxx of diamonds and you play standard count. Partner discards the diamond 3 on her spades so playing the fill in the blanks game , how many diamonds does declarer have ? Partner shows 3 diamonds , so applying patterns 6-3-3-1 declarer has only one diamond. If it is the Ace who cares , so discard all of your diamonds. Its like cheating playing this fill in the blanks game !!!