Throw-in ***

This page usually contains a piece of theory, in this case about 'throw-in', including an example.
Three exercises will follow, one in each of the next three weeks.

Often declarer is able to let the opponents do his 'dirty work'. He does so by throwing one of them in the lead at the right moment. That opponent has no choice but to play a suit, thereby solving declarer's problem in that suit.

Adventures of a bridge professional 15: Bridge professional?

After the World Championships I somehow couldn't get started writing a column. Why? I don't know. Or maybe I do: for some time I didn't fancy bridge.

The reason was simple, I had single-handedly thrown away our team's chances at the World Championship teams (contesting the Bermuda Bowl) in São Paulo.
On returning to Netherlands I learned our team mates for the Dutch Master League teams were ending their partnership. In short: I had had enough.
Now, almost 2010 (Sjoert wrote this column for the Dutch Bridgevaria.nl site shortly after Christmas 2009, -Ed.), I am glad to say my team mates (they agreed to postpone the break-up until after the final of the Master League) did extremely well, enabling us to make it to the Master League final. We will start that final trailing 17 IMPs (the carry-over from the round robin), but I hope we will begin performing in 2010 like we did most of the time in 2009: winning matches.

My best experience this year was the clinic I gave in the small town of Kockengen (Central Netherlands). In order to do something new I asked the participants five questions. Here they come:

What's the danger? ***

N/NS		♠	A K 3
		♥	K 6 2
		♦	A K 5 3
		♣	Q 7 6
		♠	6 4 2
		♥	A 5 3
		♦	7 2
		♣	K J 5 4 2

West leads the ♥4 (fourth best, therefore he has exactly a four card suit).
What is the safest line of play? IMP scoring, concentrate therefore on making the contract, never mind the overtrick(s).

Missed game *

EW miss out on a good heart game.

W/NS
♠	9 3			♠	A 10 7 6
♥	A Q 9 5 4			♥	K 8 7 3
♦	9 8			♦	Q 10 7 5
♣	A K 8 5			♣	3

'I don't think I should do more than invite for game', says East.
'I have thirteen points, a minimum hand for opening, so I really cannot raise to 4♥', says West.

West makes ten tricks.
Who was wrong?

Save partner from embarrassment ***

W/All		♠	A 6 5
		♥	K J 7 5
		♦	K J 8 3
		♣	A 2
♠	K 9
♥	A Q
♦	A 10 9
♣	9 8 6 5 4 3

¹ Take-out

This was the bidding at one of many tables at the 2004 European Championships for teams in Malmö, Sweden. A strange auction, but not an impossible one: East is unwilling to sell out in 1♠ and South suddenly comes up with a jump: it's clear he has six spades but had too few points to jump in spades at the first round of the bidding.
Anyway, at most tables South declares 4♠, although after different auctions.

Almost any West leads a club. Our West elects the ♣4 (third or fifth best). Declarer wins with dummy's ♣A (East the ♣7, South the ♣10) and returns, somewhat surprisingly, the ♣2. East wins with the ♣Q, South the ♣J.
Which club should West play to this track to save East from embarrassment (after all, East could have passed 1♠, so if NS make 4♠, East will have egg in his face)?

Stabell spots the extra chance***

At the 1981 European Teams Championships Norwegian Leif-Erik Stabell, playing against Israel, lands his 6♣ contract in an ingenious way.

E/—		♠	7 4
		♥	Q 3 2
		♦	K Q 9 8 2
		♣	8 5 3
		♠	A K 6 2
		♥	A K
		♦	4
		♣	A K J 10 6 2

¹ 16⁺ HCP, conventional, forcing
² Fewer than 8 HCP
³ Relay
By means of relay bids South has gathered information about North's hand

West leads the ♠3, third or fifth best. East contributes the ♠J and Stabell wins with ♠A. He cashes the ♣A, dropping West's ♣Q.
Stabell has already decided and hands you his cards.
How would you continue?