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Ditty “Down one is good Bridge”

This deal is taken from Andrew's Rules Acronyms & Ditties booklet. (Available here)

It is almost always better to go down one in a contract than let the opponents make a contract. Simple as that. Therefore do not give the opponents a free ride in the bidding, try to push them uncomfortably high.

A. After (1 ) - P - (2 ) - P - (P) be very reluctant to let the opponents play. Bid 2 ♠ with:

Hand (i) Hand(ii)
♠ J 9 8 6 2
 9 7
 A K 4 2
♣ 7 6
♠ Q 8 6 3 2
7
 K J 10 2
♣ Q 6 3

If the opponents let you play there and you go down one (about what you’d expect) that’s good bridge; for the opponents would surely be able to make a mere 2 . If you push them up to 3 , perhaps they will go down.

Down two (doubled? vulnerable?) is not good bridge though...

B. After (1 ) - P - (2 ) - P - (P) - 2 ♠ - (P) - P - (3 ) - P - (P) almost never bid 3 ♠. Bear in mind that partner did not bid over 1 ; that his 2 ♠ bid was designed to go down one or to push the opponents up to 3 . He has succeeded – don’t punish his enterprise.

Down one can also be good bridge in an uncontested auction. Making a game contract carries with it big scoring rewards and should be attempted with just a 50-50 (or even slightly worse) chance of making (at Duplicate Pairs you want slightly better odds). Going down one in a valiant effort to make such a game is good bridge.

East Deals
None Vul
K 8 5 2
8
8 6 4
Q 10 9 5 2
A 7
J 7 6 3
K J 7 5
K 8 7
 
N
W   E
S
 
9 3
A K Q 9 5
Q 10 9 2
6 3
 
Q J 10 6 4
10 4 2
A 3
A J 4
West North East South
    1  1 ♠
4  4 ♠1 Pass Pass
Dbl2 Pass Pass Pass
  1. Expecting to go down but also expecting the opponents to make 4 . In that case 4 ♠ (doubled) down one will be good bridge.
  2. Good defensive hand – you must not let the opponents steal from you undoubled.
4 ♠× by South
Lead:  3

On our deal East won trick one with  Q and switched to  10 around to the weakness in dummy. Declarer won  A and led ♠ Q. West won ♠ A and played  K then  J. Declarer ruffed, crossed to ♠ K drawing the opposing trumps, then ran ♣ 10. West won ♣ K and that was down one.

4 ♠ (doubled) down one was good bridge because E-W would make 4 . [In 4 ] declarer (East) wins ♠ Q lead with ♠ A, draws trumps and knocks out  A. He later leads towards ♣ K and because South holds ♣ A, ♣ K is promoted: just three losers.

You may say, “if North held ♣ A, 4  would not have made, so bidding 4 ♠ would not have been such good bridge”. Ah – but if North holds ♣ A, then 4 ♠ makes (N-S’s club finesse now working). And 4 ♠ doubled making is extremely good bridge!

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