Bridge: Oct. 26, 2023

This week’s deals have treated deceptive play. I came across today’s deal in the archives of my colleague Alfred Sheinwold, the product of his six decades as a columnist. It appeared in “Sheinwold on Bridge” on July 25, 1986, about when our collaboration began.

At six spades, South leads a diamond to his hand at Trick Two and returns a low trump to dummy’s queen. If East takes the king, South wins any return and cashes the ace of trumps. When West discards, South picks up the trumps and claims.

FIRST TRUMP

But say East follows to the first trump with the eight. If South thinks that card may be a singleton (or from 10-8 doubleton), he may unwisely come back to his hand and lead the jack, and East will have created a second trump trick from thin air.

Sheinwold’s index card mentions that I was East! After 37 years, I have not the slightest recollection of this deal, but the falsecarding position is well known. I hope I actually got it right at the table, and the deal was no fabrication.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 9 7 6 5 H 7 2 D K 7 C A K J 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade and he bids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have a promising hand. If partner holds a suitable minimum such as 3,AK4,AJ1042,Q1073, he will have a good chance at six clubs. Raise to four clubs, forcing. (A raise to three clubs would be only invitational.) If partner cue-bids four hearts next, you will jump to slam.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A Q 4

H A K 4

D A 6 5 4

C Q 6 5

WEST

S 2

H Q J 10 6 3

D Q 10 3

C 10 8 7 2

EAST

S K 10 8 3

H 9 8 5

D J 9 8 2

C 9 3

SOUTH

S J 9 7 6 5

H 7 2

D K 7

C A K J 4

North East South West
1 D Pass 1 S Pass
2 NT Pass 3 C Pass
4 S Pass 6 S All Pass
Opening lead — H Q

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