Bridge: July 29, 2022

“To err is human. Just don’t let your eraser wear out before your pencil.” — graffiti

Bridge is a game of error. (I suspect that more are made at the bridge table than in most areas of human endeavor.) In today’s deal, North-South’s bidding was shaky. South needed a bit more strength for his “reverse” to two hearts; North should have bid three diamonds next instead of raising the hearts with three-card support.

West led a club, and East took the K-A and led a third club. Declarer ruffed and led the king of trumps … and East took his ace and returned a trump. South drew trumps, finding the happy 3-3 break, and claimed.

THIRD TRUMP

East erred. He should duck the first trump and duck again if South leads a second trump. If South leads a third trump, East wins and cashes a club; if instead South starts the diamonds, West gets a ruff with his last low trump.

You can’t erase your mistakes, but you can learn from them. Cherish the ace of trumps. Don’t release it too soon.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 9 8 3 H Q 8 7 D Q 7 2 C J 5 3. Your partner opens one heart. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Bid two hearts, confirming a trump suit and defining your strength. A response of one spade would do neither. True, if partner has four spades, a spade contract might be superior, but there is no way to determine that. If you respond one spade and he bids, say, two clubs, your return to two hearts will suggest only a doubleton heart.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S K 9 8 3

H Q 8 7

D Q 7 2

C J 5 3

WEST

S Q 10 5 4

H 6 5 2

D 8 4

C Q 10 7 6

EAST

S J 6 2

H A 4 3

D 6 5 3

C A K 8 4

SOUTH

S A 7

H K J 10 9

D A K J 10 9

C 9 2

South West North East
1D Pass 1S Pass
2H Pass 3H Pass
4H All Pass
Opening lead — C 6

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