Bridge: Nov. 10, 2023

Look only at today’s West cards and auction. You’re playing for the team led by Leif Bremark in the final of the venerable Spingold Teams at the Summer NABC. Two deals remain after this one, and the match is surely close. (Although you can’t know, your team trails Marty FLEISHER by only 6 IMPs.)

The North-South auction is odd. South bid three clubs to try for game, and when North signed off at three diamonds, South accepted his own try – and in notrump. It’s your lead.

West for BREMARK chose a low spade. Declarer gathered in his singleton king and raced off five clubs and five hearts. Plus 460.

OTHER TABLE

At the other table, North-South bid with more discipline – or less enterprise, depending on your point of view. They played at three clubs, making four for plus 130, and FLEISHER gained 8 IMPs to lead by 14. The last two deals were routine games, so that is how the hard-fought match ended.

If BREMARK’s West gets his fingers on the ace of spades – maybe a case exists for that lead – 3NT goes down three for 7 IMPs to BREMARK and victory by a solitary IMP.

Did you win the Spingold?

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q J 8 6 H 9 8 3 D A J 4 C 9 5 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, you “advance” one spade, and he then bids two diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has a strong hand. He wouldn’t bid a suit after doubling first since your hand might have been extremely weak. Game is likely. A raise to three diamonds would be fine. An option, if partner will interpret it correctly, is to cue-bid three clubs, suggesting that he try 3NT if he has a club stopper.

North dealer

E-W vulnerable

NORTH

S 7 4 3

H K Q 6 4 2

D 9 7

C K 10 6

WEST

S A 10 9 5 2

H 10 7 5

D K 5 3

C J 7

EAST

S Q J 8 6

H 9 8 3

D A J 4

C 9 5 2

SOUTH

S K

H A J

D Q 10 8 6 2

C A Q 8 4 3

North East South West
Pass Pass 1 D Pass
1 H Pass 2 C Pass
2 D Pass 3 C Pass
3 D Pass 3 NT(!) All Pass
Opening lead – Choose it

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