Bridge: March 16, 2024
“Simple Saturday” columns treat basic technique and logical thinking.
Today’s South might have blasted into 3NT at his second turn; no opening lead would beat that game. When South preferred to probe by bidding two spades, North signed off; but South tried again, and North went on to five diamonds with his “working” queen of spades and side ace.
West led the queen of clubs, and South took the ace, drew trumps, went to the ace of hearts and let the queen of spades ride. West won, and the defense cashed a club and two hearts.
ILLUSION
South succeeds with careful play. At Trick Two he leads a low spade. The finesse is an illusion; South gets two spade tricks whether it wins or loses. West takes the king and leads a second club, and East wins and shifts to the king of hearts.
South takes the ace and cashes the A-K of trumps. He pitches dummy’s low hearts on the A-J of spades, ruffs a heart, ruffs a club, ruffs his last heart and wins the last two tricks with trumps.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A J 5 H 7 5 2 D A K Q J 9 C A 4. You open one diamond, your partner responds one heart, you jump to 2NT and he bids three diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your 2NT showed a balanced 19 or so points and was almost but not quite forcing. Partner’s three diamonds is forcing. Bid three hearts, showing three-card support for his suit. He can return to 3NT. If instead he judges to play at four hearts or five diamonds, fine.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S Q
H A 4 3
D 7 5 3 2
C 8 6 5 3 2
WEST
S K 10 6 3 2
H 10 9 8
D 8
C Q J 10 9
EAST
S 9 8 7 4
H K Q J 6
D 10 6 4
C K 7
SOUTH
S A J 5
H 7 5 2
D A K Q J 9
C A 4
South West North East
1 D Pass 2 D Pass
2 S Pass 3 D Pass
4 D Pass 5 D All Pass
Opening lead — C Q
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