Bridge: March 11, 2024

“If life shuts a door, open it. It’s a door. That’s how they work.” — graffiti

Today’s North could have settled for a try for slam, raising South’s 2NT to 4NT and leaving the decision to his partner. But North preferred a different slam-try: “Bid slam and hope partner makes it.”

South won the first heart with the ace and led a diamond — and West threw a spade. Declarer took the ace and tried leading the five of clubs to finesse with his queen. When West took the king and led another heart, South did well to go down only two.

“The 5-0 diamond break was a door-shutter,” declarer sighed.

DIFFERENT

When the diamond door closed, South should have tried a different door. At Trick Three he leads the ten of clubs, planning to let it ride if East plays low.

If as the cards lie East covers with the jack, South’s queen loses to West. South wins the next heart in dummy and leads a second club to his eight. He wins four clubs, three diamonds, two hearts and three spades.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A Q 10 H K 4 3 D A K Q 6 5 C 10 5. You open one diamond, and your partner bids one heart. What do you say?

ANSWER: Game is likely, but you have no satisfactory second bid. Some experts would bid 2NT despite the club weakness. A jump to three diamonds would suggest longer diamonds, and a raise to three hearts would promise four-card support. Bid one spade. If partner raises, you may survive; if he passes, you may have no better contract.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A Q 10

H K 4 3

D A K Q 6 5

C 10 5

WEST

S 7 6 5 3 2

H Q J 10 9 2

D None

C K 7 3

EAST

S 9 4

H 8 7 6

D J 10 9 7 2

C J 9 6

SOUTH

S K J 8

H A 5

D 8 4 3

C A Q 8 4 2

South West North East
1 C Pass 2 D Pass
2 NT Pass 6 NT All Pass
Opening lead — H Q

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