Bridge: Oct. 28, 2023
My club member Unlucky Louie owns a rental house. His tenant texted him to say that the commode “had broke in half and was laying (sic) on the floor in four pieces.”
Some people just can’t count. If you’re declarer at four spades and count four possible losers, you need to do something about one of them. In today’s deal, West led the queen of hearts, and South won in dummy and let the ten of trumps ride. West took the king and led another heart, and South was doomed: He lost a trick in each suit.
CLUB WINNER
South has a possible loser in every suit, but he can set up an extra club winner for a heart discard. After the opening lead, he must do that quickly.
South wins the first heart in his hand and leads a low club. West takes the king, but South wins the next heart, takes the queen of clubs and returns a trump to his ace. He discards dummy’s last heart on the ace of clubs and ruffs his heart loser.
If East had the king of clubs, South would hope the trump finesse won.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 10 9 7 4 H A 6 2 D J 7 5 2 C Q 5. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, you respond (“advance”) one spade, and your partner raises to two spades. What do you say?
ANSWER: Don’t even think of passing. Your partner is willing to undertake an eight-trick contract, and for all he knows, you have not a single high card. Consider how much worse your hand might be! If you trust your partner, bid at least three spades.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 10 9 7 4
H A 6 2
D J 7 5 2
C Q 5
WEST
S K 5
H Q J 10 5
D Q 9 4 3
C K 9 7
EAST
S 6 3
H 8 7 3
D K 10 8
C J 10 8 4 2
SOUTH
S A Q J 8 2
H K 9 4
D A 6
C A 6 3
South West North East
1 S Pass 2 S Pass
4 S All Pass
Opening lead — H Q
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