Bridge: June 18, 2024

Bridge on college campuses is making a major comeback, bolstered by ACBL programs and the efforts of dedicated volunteers. Young players are learning to appreciate the attractions of the game, and college events are gaining in popularity.

Many students attended the ACBL’s Spring NABC. In today’s deal from a pairs event, North-South were Rahul Garga and R.E. Stern, from the University of Chicago Bridge Club.

Junior players are known for fearless bidding, and when East opened 2NT, Stern climbed right in with three spades. West bid 3NT, but Garga went to four spades.

DISTRIBUTION

East doubled that, though he might have reasoned that opponents who had bid to the skies with no high cards to speak of surely knew something about the distribution that he didn’t. (I won’t say, though I am tempted to, that anybody who opens 2NT as East deserves whatever happens to him.)

West sat for the double and led a trump, but Stern had no trouble wrapping up 10 tricks, scoring his king of diamonds plus nine trump tricks with a crossruff.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 7 H K J 10 5 D Q 9 8 4 3 C Q 10 3. Neither vulnerable. Your partner opens one club, and the next player bids one spade. You double (negative), the player at your left bids two spades, and two passes follow. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner may have four decent spades, and you may have no good trump suit. Still, I would be reluctant to let the opponents play at the two level. Take a chance and double again. You hope partner wonâ€t pass, thinking you have more defense.

East dealer

Neither side vulnerable

NORTH

S 10 8 6 5 4

H Q 8 6 4 3

D 10 5

C 4

WEST

S 7

H K J 10 5

D Q 9 8 4 3

C Q 10 3

EAST

S A

H A 9 7 2

D A J 7 6

C A K 8 2

SOUTH

S K Q J 9 3 2

H None

D K 2

C J 9 7 6 5

East South West North
2 NT(!) 3 S 3 NT 4 S
Dbl All Pass
Opening lead – S 7

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