Bridge: April 9, 2024

Players can fall victim to what I call the “What If?” syndrome. They decide on a line of play, then start to worry about an unlikely lie of the cards and talk themselves into an inferior line.

Today’s South might have bid 3NT at his third turn. At four spades, he won the first heart, led a trump to dummy and tried a club to his queen. West took the king and led a second heart, and East won and shifted to the queen of diamonds.

South took the ace, cashed his ace of clubs, led a trump to dummy and ruffed a club. When West discarded, South lost two diamonds. Down one.

TRUMP SHIFT

“Lead the ace of clubs at Trick Two, then the queen,” North said. “You win a trump shift in dummy, ruff a club, lead a trump to dummy, ruff a club and get back with a trump for the good fifth club.”

“I saw that possibility,” South shrugged, “but I look silly if East has K-x in clubs and four trumps.”

South’s comment was an extreme example of “What If?” The play North noted was best by far.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 7 4 H J 9 8 7 2 D K 9 6 5 C K 7. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids one spade and you go to two diamonds. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Despite your weak preference, partner bid again to try for game. He has shown his pattern to let you judge whether you have useful cards, and you have little waste in hearts opposite his shortness. Bid four diamonds. He may hold KQ103,3,AQJ74,A32.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S Q 10 8

H 6 3

D 8 4 3

C 8 6 5 4 2

WEST

S 7 4

H J 9 8 7 2

D K 9 6 5

C K 7

EAST

S 5 3

H K Q 10 4

D Q J 10

C J 10 9 3

SOUTH

S A K J 9 6 2

H A 5

D A 7 2

C A Q

South West North East
2 C Pass 2 D Pass
2 S Pass 2 NT Pass
3 S Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — H 7

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