Bridge: Aug. 6, 2023

“If you don’t like the way I drive, get off the sidewalk.” — bumper sticker

A club player brought me today’s deal from a duplicate game. He had been South and was unhappy with his partner’s bidding.

“When West preempted with four hearts,” he told me, “my partner bid four spades. My hand was huge, and not to bid a slam never crossed my mind. West led the king of hearts, and when partner tabled a balanced hand with 10 high-card points, I was appalled.

“I ruffed the second heart — East threw a club — and saw a chance for 12 tricks with a dummy reversal. I led a trump to dummy, ruffed a heart — East threw another club — and led a second trump. West discarded, and I was doomed. I took my three high diamonds, ruffed my last diamond in dummy and cashed two club tricks and my last trump, but East won the 13th trick with a trump. Down one.

“I think partner’s bid of four spades was reckless. He let the preempt push him around.”

Opposing preemption often obliges players to stretch their values to avoid being shut out. North’s bid was aggressive but not unreasonable. West had promised long hearts, and North had four; that didn’t leave many for South.

In fact, South could make six spades. After he ruffs the second heart and sees East pitch a club, South can judge well to take the A-J of trumps, then cash the top diamonds. When East has four diamonds as well as the missing trumps, South ruffs his fourth diamond with dummy’s last trump. He leads a club to his hand, draws trumps and wins the last two tricks with high clubs.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A J 7

H 10 7 4 3

D Q 6 3

C K 10 9

WEST

S 5

H A K Q J 8 5 2

D 10 5

C 6 4 2

EAST

S 6 4 3 2

H 6

D J 9 8 2

C 8 7 5 3

SOUTH

S K Q 10 9 8

H 9

D A K 7 4

C A Q J

South West North East
1 S 4 H 4 S Pass
6 S All Pass
Opening lead — H K

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