Daily IntoBridge

Would you have bid like this or double? 4♠ is just by length, so you can assume 5-5 or so. West should have another trick behind you. And there is always at least one ruff. But you cannot say for sure if it is -2 or -3. Your own contract is far from save too. How would you decide?

As it is, I lost because it was 4♠X-3 on the other side while I made 5♦.

Another one from today. I made 5♦ finding the ♠K, discarding the clubs on the spades, and finally guessing the ♥A correctly. It is obviously not a good contract.

On the other table, 4♠ was bid by Lia with the bidding below. The X is explained as "Take-out or any strong double". 

It is interesting to see how Lia would have bid "using my system", currently Gavin Wolpert's master series. In fact, Lia would have passed the double in North's place. 2♣X is -1, i.e., a plus score. That is better than the windy games on North and South, but not better than a part score which is the best solution on the long run.

This is just a warning for beginners. First of all, South has no real reason to bid game here. Many players did. But you are in a competitive situation. 2♦ is indeed a fit and a game try. But you are between 9 and 17 points, and rather on the lower end. 

West led a small heart and East cashed two tricks there, then returned a diamond. You win at the table, overtaking the Jack. Now, alarm clocks should ring. East could still have the ♠K, but due to his long hearts I would call West to be more likely to have it. If the trump finesse loses, you could get another trump ruff. If you simply cash the Ace and yield another trump, you are save for -1, which is the top.

♠ - ♥ - ♦ - ♣