Bridge Tip 1

Blackwood's Theory of Distribution

Old sayings at whist and bridge such as "third player plays high" or "second player plays low" or "cover an honour with an honour" should not be used without any thought as there are many exceptions.

Similarly the advice when having eight or nine cards in a suit missing the Queen regarding whether or not to finesse is: "eight ever, nine never". The advice about whether to go for the drop with nine cards or try the finesse is very slightly in favour of going for the drop.

ª Q 6

¨ A K 6 5

§ 9 7 5

ª J 10 7 2

¨ 9 3 2

§ A K 10 6 4

ª 5 4 3

¨ J 10 4

§ Q J 3 2

ª A K 9 8

¨ Q 8 7

§ 8

Take as an example the following hand where North is the dealer playing Standard English Acol. North opens 1NT and South uses the Stayman convention with 2§ ; with West doubling for lead direction. North responds 2 hearts and South splinters with 4§ ;before bidding a small slam in hearts. East leads the Queen of clubs and the defenders win the first trick. If declarer follows the advice of the "eight ever, nine never" aphorism he will go for the drop and in this instance fail in his contract.

If declarer applies Blackwood's theory of distribution he will make his contract. Easley Blackwood suggested that if their were no clues as to the distribution of the hand from either bidding or play, which is not often the case, then declarer should look at his shortest side suit between his hand and dummy and decide whether to go for the drop or finesse according to the combined length and or shape of the side suit. His rule is that with a combined holding in the shortest side suit of 5 cards or more; go for the drop. With a combined holding of 3 or fewer; finesse. With exactly 4 cards; if they split 2:2; go for the drop, if the split is 3:1 or 4:0; finesse.

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