Bridge: July 26, 2023

Wednesday, July 26. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the Daywatch out of Bunco. My partner’s Bill Gannon. He’s a good player. My name’s Friday.

We got a call about a scam at a Hollywood club. We checked it out. The suspect was still playing. One of his opponents spoke with us.

“It was terrible, officer.”

“Just the facts, ma’am.”

“I was East. South swindled us out of a slam!”

South had blasted into six hearts with no idea if he could make it. West led the ten of spades, and South took the K-A and ruffed a spade with his nine of trumps.

GOOD SPADES

“My partner naturally overruffed with the ten,” East said, “and led a trump. South drew trumps with his ace and dummy’s seven and took the good spades. What a scammer!”

We let South off with a warning. He said he’d bid slam because he’d seen West defend before. The opening lead was indeed poor, and overruffing the third spade — when South seemed to be inviting an overruff — was, let us say, terrible.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 7 6 4 3 2 H 7 2 D 6 5 3 C 8 4. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player redoubles. What do you say?

ANSWER: You seem to be outgunned in high-card strength; the opponents may have a game at diamonds or notrump. To make it hard for them to judge, jump to three spades. You won’t be hurt badly there even if doubled. With A764,732,653,842, you would pass or bid one spade.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A 7 6 4 3 2

H 7 2

D 6 5 3

C 8 4

WEST

S 10 9

H 10 5

D K J 7 2

C K 10 5 3 2

EAST

S Q J 8

H 6 3

D Q 9 8 4

C Q 9 7 6

SOUTH

S K 5

H A K Q J 9 8 4

D A 10

C A J

South West North East
2 C Pass 2 D Pass
2 H Pass 2 S Pass
6 H(!) All Pass
Opening lead — S 10

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