Bridge: April 19, 2023

Here’s a head-scratching memo from a real-life project manager:

“Success depends on teamwork. Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say.”

Winning defense is a joint effort. In today’s deal, West led the queen of hearts against three spades. East signaled with the eight, and South ducked and won the next heart. He led the queen of diamonds, and West took the ace and led the king of clubs: four, three, deuce. He led another diamond, and South won and let the jack of trumps ride.

HIGH DIAMOND

West took the king and led a third diamond, and South played low from dummy. He drew trumps, then threw a club on dummy’s remaining high diamond. Making three.

East let his partner down. He can beat the contract if he overtakes West’s queen of hearts at Trick One. If South wins and leads the queen of diamonds, West wins and leads the king of clubs, ducked. Then West can lead a low heart to East’s ten for a club return, setting up five tricks for the defense.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 10 9 4 H 7 4 D K J 4 2 C A 8 4. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two clubs and you return to two hearts. Partner next bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your two hearts promised at most nine points, and if partner saw no chance for game, he would have passed. His two spades says he remains interested and suggests a good hand with 3-5-1-4 pattern. With your maximum values, you must cooperate. Bid 3NT.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S J 10 9 4

H 7 4

D K J 4 2

C A 8 4

WEST

S K 6

H Q J 9

D A 10 8 7 3

C K Q 5

EAST

S 5 3

H K 10 8 6 2

D 9 5

C 10 9 7 3

SOUTH

S A Q 8 7 2

H A 5 3

D Q 6

C J 6 2

South West North East
1 S Dbl Redbl 2 H
Pass 3 H 3 S All Pass
Opening lead — H Q

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