Bridge: Jan. 11, 2024

Today’s deal appeared in another syndicated column. I can steal it because deals are not copyrightable and, like many deals, it has multiple points of interest.

The columnist wrote that South ruffed the second heart, led a club to dummy and passed the jack of trumps. West won and shifted to the six of diamonds: three, nine, four.

East had to guess: Should he try to cash the ace or lead a third heart, hoping to promote a second trump trick for West? The columnist noted that West might have helped East by leading the queen of diamonds. (If South had the jack, he wouldn’t misguess if West led low.)

DOUBTFUL

That struck me as doubtful; the chance of a trump promotion was slim. But what interested me more was South’s play. Since South didn’t want West in for a diamond shift, South might have led a low trump at Trick Three.

West would surely play low; East might have had the bare ace. When the jack won, South could take the ace, then run the clubs to pitch a diamond.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 3 H J 9 8 6 5 D K 3 C A K Q 5. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: You might belong at 3NT, but a minimum opening bid for partner such as AK6,2,AQ1074,J1063 will make slam in clubs a good bet. Jump to four clubs, forcing. If partner makes any encouraging move, bid six clubs. You must take the initiative since he can’t bid too aggressively with his weak clubs.

East dealer

Neither side vulnerable

NORTH

S J 3

H J 9 8 6 5

D K 3

C A K Q 5

WEST

S K 9 4

H 10 4

D Q 8 7 6

C 8 6 4 2

EAST

S 5

H A K Q 7 2

D A J 10 9 5

C 9 7

SOUTH

S A Q 10 8 7 6 2

H 3

D 4 2

C J 10 3

East South West North
1 H 3 S Pass 4 S
All Pass
Opening lead — H 10

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