Bridge: April 7, 2022

To discourage cheating, some players advocate using tablets in tournaments, with players in separate rooms. It’s sad that we must consider that; it would hurt the game’s sociability as well as the art of “table presence.”

In today’s deal, West huddled before leading a passive club against 3NT. A heart would have made South’s task easier, but West knew his partner was broke and feared giving away a vital trick. South sensed that West had honors in the other suits; South took three clubs, then led a heart from dummy to his ten.

END PLAY

West won and led the king of diamonds, winning. End-played, he next led the queen.

South took the ace and jack and led the A-Q of hearts. West won and cashed another heart but then had to lead a spade into the A-Q. Making three; well played!

I believe the only real way to deter cheating is to remove the incentive to cheat: eliminating money from the equation. But the practice of “sponsors” paying huge sums to pros is out of control.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 8 5 3 H 8 6 4 D A 6 4 C A Q J 5. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two clubs and he bids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Bid two spades. Since you responded at the two level, partner should treat your second bid as inviting game. With K 5 3, 8 6 4, A 6 4, A Q J 5 you would bid three spades, forcing. In a 2/1 style, you would have responded 1NT. The inability to suggest the location of your side values with an invitational hand is a drawback to that style.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S 8 5 3

H 8 6 4

D A 6 4

C A Q J 5

WEST

S K J 6

H K J 5 2

D K Q 5

C 10 9 3

EAST

S 10 9 7 2

H 9 7 3

D 10 9 8 2

C 8 7

SOUTH

S A Q 4

H A Q 10

D J 7 3

C K 6 4 2

South West North East
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass

Opening lead — Choose it

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