Bridge: Nov. 16, 2023
Cy the Cynic says that we don’t really get smarter as we get older. We just run out of mistakes to make.
Cy was declarer at today’s four spades. He ducked West’s king of diamonds, won the next diamond and led a trump to his ace and a second trump. West took the king and led a third diamond.
The Cynic ruffed, drew the missing trump with dummy’s queen and ran the hearts. He lost a club at the end, making four.
Were mistakes made?
HEART SWITCH
Cy must avoid letting East gain the lead for a club switch; the defense needs a way for East to get in. When Cy led a trump to his ace, West could infer that Cy didn’t have the jack also, not having finessed. So West could dump his king under the ace. Then East would get in with the jack in time to lead a club, beating the contract.
Cy could avoid that if he led a heart to his hand at Trick Three and returned a low trump toward dummy. If West played low and dummy’s queen won, Cy could effectively play low on the next trump.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S K 2 H 6 3 D K Q 10 9 3 C A J 8 5. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two diamonds, he rebids two spades and you try three clubs. Partner then bids three hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: In theory, partner shows six spades, four hearts and minimum values. But he may have a heart holding such as A-x-x for his “fourth-suit” bid with which he is uneasy about declaring at notrump. Bid three spades and let partner use his judgment.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S Q 10 7 5
H K 9 4
D A 6 5
C 9 6 2
WEST
S K 2
H 6 3
D K Q 10 9 3
C A J 8 5
EAST
S J 9 3
H 8 7 5
D J 8 2
C Q 10 7 3
SOUTH
S A 8 6 4
H A Q J 10 2
D 7 4
C K 4
South West North East
1 H 2 D 2 H Pass
2 S Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — D K
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