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Bridge
By Philip Adler
Plato said, "He who does not desire power is fit to hold it."
This week, let's continue our look at deals with two suit fits.
When you have two unbalanced fits, say 5-3 and 6-2, which should you choose?
The guideline is: When all or most of the tricks must come from the two long suits, select the less evenly divided. This means that 6-2 will be better than 5-3. (This is also one time when a 5-3 fit will be better than a 4-4.) That rule is doubly true when the breaks are bad or you have relatively weak hands.
In today's deal, North-South will be contemplating a sacrifice over four hearts, which would make easily, West taking at least three spades, five hearts and two diamonds. Should North-South pick five clubs or five diamonds?
South's first-round call would cause debate. Many experts would advocate two no-trump, showing at least 5-5 in the unbid suits. But some would prefer two diamonds, bidding the longer suit first and planning to bid clubs next time (at the five-level if necessary) to describe the 6-5.
This second plan works better here, because if South intervenes with two no-trump, North will prefer five clubs to five diamonds. Note, though, that after two rounds of hearts, declarer is in big trouble. The defenders will keep playing on hearts, and five clubs doubled will go down four.
In five diamonds doubled, though, West must lead an unlikely club at trick one to get the contract down three.