Bridge: May 17, 2024

Cy the Cynic says that when someone makes a mistake and then makes an excuse, it probably means he’ll make the same mistake again.

Against today’s four spades, West led a trump. South won in dummy and led a diamond to his queen, and West took the king and led a second trump. South won and led another diamond, but West won and led a third trump, removing dummy’s last trump. Then South had nine tricks — six trumps, two clubs and a heart — but no chance for one more.

“Trumps might have split 2-2,” was the best excuse declarer could muster.

TECHNIQUE

South should study up on dummy-play technique. In case he can’t ruff his third diamond in dummy, he must try to use the long clubs. He wins the first trick in his hand, takes the ace of clubs and concedes a diamond. He wins the next trump in dummy, cashes the king of clubs and ruffs a club.

When East-West follow, South leads a trump to dummy and ruffs a club. He can go to the ace of hearts to take the good fifth club.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A Q J 9 8 2 H J 7 6 D Q 4 3 C A. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he jumps to three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Slam is likely, even a grand slam. Your partner promises about 16 high-card points with six (or seven) good hearts and might hold K4,AKQ1043,A2,763. Rebid three spades. If partner next bids 3NT, cue-bid four clubs. An option is to jump straight to six hearts, giving the opening leader no help.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S K 10 3

H A 9 2

D 7 5

C K 8 7 4 2

WEST

S 7 6 5

H Q 10

D K J 9 8

C J 10 9 5

EAST

S 4

H K 8 5 4 3

D A 10 6 2

C Q 6 3

SOUTH

S A Q J 9 8 2

H J 7 6

D Q 4 3

C A

South West North East
1 S Pass 2 C Pass
2 S Pass 3 S Pass
4 S All Pass
Opening lead — S 7

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