Bridge: March 15, 2024

George Bernard Shaw wrote that common sense is not a gift but a punishment; you must deal with everybody who doesn’t have it. “Card sense” is an ability to visualize and manipulate an array of cards. You can be born with it or acquire it through study.

Today’s West led a low spade against 3NT, and dummy played low. East took the queen and returned a spade. South next led the queen of hearts, and West won and led the king and a fourth spade. He got in with a high heart to take his fifth spade for down one.

LACKING

South’s sense of the cards was lacking. He must play dummy’s ace on the first spade, then start the hearts. West can win and lead a second low spade to East, but if East then leads a diamond, South wins and forces out West’s other high heart. West gets his king of spades, but South has the rest.

Good card sense would tell South that blocking the spades is his best chance. If West has K-Q-x-x-x and also has the A-K of hearts (or A-x or K-x), 3NT is unmakeable.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 10 6 5 H 10 9 D A K 5 4 C A Q 9. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. You double, and your partner cue-bids two hearts. You bid two spades, and he tries three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: You must bid on. Partner’s cue bid promises the values for game opposite your double (and your double was quite sound), and his bid of a new suit is forcing. Bid three diamonds. If partner bids three spades next, you will go to four clubs.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A 3

H Q J 8 7 6

D 8 6 3

C K J 7

WEST

S K 8 7 4 2

H A K

D J

C 10 8 6 4 2

EAST

S Q 9

H 5 4 3 2

D Q 10 9 7 2

C 5 3

SOUTH

S J 10 6 5

H 10 9

D A K 5 4

C A Q 9

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

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