Bridge: March 8, 2024
“For a moment, nothing happened. Then, after a second or so, nothing continued to happen.” — Douglas Adams, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
Today’s North-South got to four spades despite West’s 1NT bid. West led the king of hearts, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then declarer took dummy’s ace and led the A-K and a third trump.
West won and led the queen of hearts, and South ruffed and ran his trumps. West threw two hearts, his low club and the jack of diamonds. At the end, South led a low diamond, hoping the ace would fall, but East took the queen and led a club. West’s king scored for down one.
13TH TRICK
South could have succeeded by leading the A-Q of clubs at the end. West would have to concede the 13th trick to the king of diamonds.
But South could have made the game without guessing. When West led the king of hearts, nothing (by declarer) should have continued to happen: Dummy can play low. Whatever West leads next, South is sure of a 10th trick.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A 8 H A J 7 3 D 8 5 3 C 9 7 5 2. Your partner deals and opens one diamond, the next player bids one spade and you double (negative). Your partner bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your double promised enough strength to respond with heart length plus clubs or diamond support. Partner’s two hearts is not a strength-showing “reverse.” He has raised (at the minimum level) the suit your double promised. Pass.
West dealer
E-W vulnerable
NORTH
S A 8
H A J 7 3
D 8 5 3
C 9 7 5 2
WEST
S Q 10 3
H K Q 10 9
D A J 9
C K J 3
EAST
S None
H 8 6 4 2
D Q 10 6 4 2
C 10 8 6 4
SOUTH
S K J 9 7 6 5 4 2
H 5
D K 7
C A Q
West North East South
1 NT Pass 2 D 3 S
Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — H K
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