Spot cards can be important at the bridge table. It is sometimes recommended that you add a point in evaluating a hand rich in nines and 10s. They provide texture to a suit.
You have heard the phrase “aces and spaces.” What suit would you rather hold in the abstract on offense, four to the ace with no spot cards or four to the king-jack-10? Opposite queen-third with the first holding you still have problems, with the second holding you are golden.
Let’s bring the point home with two example hands. Here is the first.
None vulnerable, North dealer.
NORTH
A J 8 7
A 10 3
J 6 5
K 10 2
WEST EAST K 4 Q 3 2
J 8 4 2 Q 7 6 5
K 8 7 A 4 2
Q 8 7 6 J 5 4
SOUTH
10 9 6 5
K 9
Q 10 9 3
A 9 3
You overbid to four spades as South, but with normal trump breaks you have a good play. You double hook the spades for the expected one loser and knock out the diamond honors at your leisure. You take three spades, two hearts, a heart ruff in hand, two diamonds and two clubs for 10 tricks on most distributions of the opposing cards, hoping for no defensive diamond ruff.
Without the club spots, the opponents could lead clubs and set up a club trick before you finish work in diamonds. But if they start the suit here, you can pick it up on your own playing for split honors. You might even need the nine of diamonds if the suit doesn’t split.
Now we give you this hand, identical except for the spots.
None vulnerable, North dealer.
NORTH
A J 3 2
A 3 2
J 3 2
K 4 2
WEST EAST K 10 Q 9 8
J 7 6 5 Q 10 9 8
K 10 9 A 8 7
Q 8 7 6 J 10 9
SOUTH
7 6 5 4
K 4
Q 6 5 4
A 5 3
You are in four spades again. How do you like it? It’s hopeless!
You are faced with two spade losers, three diamond losers and maybe a club loser, possibly a three-trick difference from the first hand with the same high card count, all because of spot cards.
You might save a trick if you find king-queen of spades in the pocket. Or the opponents may start diamonds for you. But you’re probably doomed no matter what, barring demolition-derby defense.
Or just imagine being in six spades with no side suit losers. Compare the spade holding (odds on for one loser) in the first hand, with the second hand (a slim chance for only one loser).
So don’t discount those high spot cards. You never can tell what crucial role they might play.
