Bridge: May 2, 2023

“My partner has a spark of genius,” a club player told me. “I’ve seen him make many good plays. But he has ignition problems; the weak part of his game is the opening lead.”

My friend said his partner was West in today’s deal and led the nine of clubs against four hearts.

“I took the queen and ace,” he said, “and led a third club. Declarer won, took the ace of diamonds and ruffed his low diamond in dummy. He carefully cashed dummy’s ace of spades before leading a trump to his king. My partner took the ace and had to lead a diamond, and South ruffed, drew trumps and claimed.”

WEAK HAND

“I don’t know why partner didn’t lead his singleton spade when he had a weak hand and the ace of trumps as a fast re-entry. Then we beat the contract easily. I can get in to lead a second spade, and he scores his ten of trumps on a trump promotion.”

West’s lead wasn’t sparkling — nor was East’s defense. If East leads almost anything except the ace of clubs at Trick Two, the defense still prevails.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 9 7 4 3 H 6 D K 10 8 3 C A Q 3. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he rebids two hearts and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s bidding suggests six hearts, four clubs and minimum values; he wants no part of game or notrump. (With a better hand, he might have bid two clubs at his second turn or jumped to four hearts at his third turn.) Pass or bid three hearts. Don’t bid 3NT.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A K J 10 6 2

H 7 3

D Q

C K J 10 4

WEST

S 8

H A 10 4

D J 9 6 5 4 2

C 9 8 7

EAST

S Q 9 7 4 3

H 6

D K 10 8 3

C A Q 3

SOUTH

S 5

H K Q J 9 8 5 2

D A 7

C 6 5 2

North East South West
1 S Pass 2 H Pass
2 S Pass 4 H All Pass
Opening lead — C 9

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