Bridge: April 25, 2024

I continue a week of columns on guessing well. Some “guessing” situations are nothing of the sort — which should make things much easier.

In today’s deal, North doubled West’s one club for takeout, an action I would have avoided with no shape and a wasted jack of clubs. South leaped to four hearts.

West led the K-A and a third club, and South ruffed and saw that he was safe for at least 10 tricks unless trumps broke 3-0 — and he cashed a high honor from the wrong hand first. He shrugged and led the king … and West discarded. East got his queen of trumps, and when West had the guarded queen of spades, South lost two more tricks.

MISGUESS?

Was declarer’s play an unfortunate misguess?

South should start the trumps by leading to dummy’s ace. Suppose East shows out. South takes the king, cashes the K-A of diamonds and ruffs a diamond. He then exits with a trump, and West is end-played when he wins. He must lead a spade from his queen or yield a fatal ruff-sluff.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K J 3 H K 10 9 7 4 3 D K 8 C 7 3. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart, he bids one spade and you rebid two hearts. Partner then bid 2NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner did not bid 2NT because he was afraid to play at hearts. With almost any minimum hand, he would have passed instead of fighting a misfit. Your hand was almost strong enough to jump to three hearts, invitational, at your last turn. Bid 3NT or four hearts.

West dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A 6 2

H A J 8 5

D A 6 4

C J 4 2

WEST

S Q 7 5 4

H None

D Q J 5 2

C A K 10 9 8

EAST

S 10 9 8

H Q 6 2

D 10 9 7 3

C Q 6 5

SOUTH

S K J 3

H K 10 9 7 4 3

D K 8

C 7 3

West North East South
1 C Dbl Pass 4 H
All Pass
Opening lead — C K

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