Bridge: June 24, 2023

A tour guide at a Revolutionary War battlefield, dressed in colonial-era garb, slipped and fell, fractured a wrist and wound up in an ER. The doctor who saw him was taken aback:

“Sir, just how long have you been waiting?”

Sometimes a defender can wait around for tricks, sometimes not. Against today’s four spades, West led the ace of diamonds: four, seven, queen. He then led a second diamond. Declarer ruffed, drew trumps and lost a club to East’s ace. South ruffed the next diamond and ran the clubs to discard his losing hearts. Making five.

CLEAR THREAT

West needed heart tricks to beat the contract and couldn’t wait to get them; dummy’s clubs were a clear threat to provide discards. At Trick Two, West must shift to the five of hearts. The defense will get two hearts, a club and a diamond.

At matchpoint scoring, West might consider shifting to the king of hearts, which might stop an overtrick. At IMPs or Chicago scoring, to shift to a low heart is his best chance for a plus.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A K Q J 10 4 3 H J 9 3 D Q C 7 2. Only the opponents are vulnerable. South in today’s deal opened four spades as dealer with this hand. Do you agree with his action?

ANSWER: South’s bid was questionable. With 13 high-card points and length in spades, he had no urgency to preempt. Most experts would open one spade. If partner responds two diamonds, you can jump to four spades to show a solid suit but a lack of controls in the other suits.

South dealer

E-W vulnerable

NORTH

S 6 2

H A 6 4

D 8 5 4

C K Q J 9 6

WEST

S 8 7 5

H K 10 5

D A 10 9 3 2

C 10 5

EAST

S 9

H Q 8 7 2

D K J 7 6

C A 8 4 3

SOUTH

S A K Q J 10 4 3

H J 9 3

D Q

C 7 2

South West North East
4 S Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead – D A

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