Bridge: Aug. 7, 2019

I continue a series on careful timing by declarer.

Cy the Cynic observes the procrastinator’s rule: “You can do it today, but today will be today again tomorrow.” When Cy was declarer at six hearts, he won West’s trump lead with the ace and saw 11 tricks: five trumps in dummy, three clubs, a diamond, a spade and at least one spade ruff in his hand.

If West had the king of spades, Cy could get a 12th trick with dummy’s queen. Otherwise, he might need a second spade ruff.

LAST DIAMOND

So Cy procrastinated; he did not draw trumps. At Trick Two he led a spade and let West’s eight win. Cy won the trump return cheaply in dummy, took the ace of spades and A-K of clubs, and ruffed a spade. He cashed the ace of diamonds and pitched dummy’s last diamond on the queen of clubs.

Cy then ruffed a diamond, ruffed the queen of spades and won the last two tricks with trumps in dummy. If he mistimes by drawing trumps and relying on a second spade trick or an unlikely squeeze, down he goes.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 5 3 2 H J 8 7 6 4 D 8 4 C A K. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have located a trump fit. How high should you raise? A raise to two spades would be a chance-giving action and would show seven to nine points. If your jack of hearts were the ace, you would want to play at game and would bid four spades. Raise to three spades, invitational.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S Q 5 3 2

H J 8 7 6 4

D 8 4

C A K

WEST

S J 9 8

H 10 5 2

D K 9 6

C J 9 7 4

EAST

S K 10 7 6

H 9

D Q 10 7 5 2

C 10 6 3

SOUTH

S A 4

H A K Q 3

D A J 3

C Q 8 5 2

South West North East

2 NT Pass 3 C Pass

3 H Pass 5 H Pass

6 H All Pass

Opening lead — H 2

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