Bridge: March 26, 2020

“As you get older,” humorist Sam Levenson said, “remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.”

It’s well known that partners tend to do the wrong thing. The more critical the situation, the more likely they are to err. Even if your partner is a world-class expert, save him from making a mistake if you can.

In today’s deal, North-South bid boldly to four spades, and West led the king of clubs. East signaled with the ten, and West — correctly interpreting East’s play as encouraging with a doubleton — continued with the ace and a third club for East to ruff.

HIGH CLUBS

But then East led a heart — the suit in which West had overcalled. Declarer won, drew trumps and threw diamonds on dummy’s two high clubs. Making four.

West failed to protect his partner. West should anticipate what may happen after East ruffs the third club. To avoid disaster, West should cash his ace of diamonds at the third trick, then give East a club ruff.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 9 H J 9 8 6 5 3 D A 6 5 C A K 7. You open one heart, your partner responds two clubs, you rebid two hearts and he tries two spades. You bid three clubs, and partner jumps to four hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner shows slam interest with diamond shortness. If content to play at four hearts, he would have supported hearts without mentioning his spades. Bid six hearts. His hand should be no weaker than A K 4 3, A Q 7, 4, Q 10 9 5 4.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S K 4 3

H 4 2

D K J 10

C Q 9 8 5 3

WEST

S 9

H J 9 8 6 5 3

D A 6 5

C A K 7

EAST

S 7 6 5

H Q 10 7

D Q 8 4 3 2

C 10 2

SOUTH

S A Q J 10 8 2

H A K

D 9 7

C J 6 4

South West North East

1 S 2 H 2 S Pass

3 S Pass 4 S All Pass

Opening lead — C K

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