“I have this irrational fear of speed bumps, but I’m slowly getting over it.” — graffiti.
Some players seem to dread not drawing trumps. Against today’s five spades doubled, West led two high hearts, and South ruffed and fearfully took the ace and nine of trumps. He next led a club to his jack.
If West had won with the queen, South would have succeeded with a ruffing finesse against West’s ace later. But West won with … the ace!
THIRD CLUB
Declarer ruffed the heart return, took the king of clubs and led the jack. When West followed low, South ruffed with dummy’s king, expecting “East’s” queen to fall. When East discarded, South took only nine tricks.
South would do better to draw no trumps at all. He leads a diamond to dummy’s ace at Trick Three and returns a club to his jack. Even if West wins deceptively with the ace and forces with a heart, South has trump entries to his hand and can set up the long clubs by taking the king, then ruffing two clubs in dummy.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 7 3 2 H A K J 4 3 D 6 C A Q 5 2. You open one heart, your partner responds one spade, you bid two clubs and he returns to two hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: Two spades might be a better contract than two hearts. Partner has only two hearts (with three-card support he would have raised directly) but might have five spades. Still, if you bid again, you would show game interest, and your hand is not quite worth a try. Pass.
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S K 10 9 4
H 7 6 2
D A J 8 7 5
C 7
WEST
S 7 3 2
H A K J 4 3
D 6
C A Q 5 2
EAST
S 6
H Q 10 9 8
D K Q 10 9 4 2
C 6 4
SOUTH
S A Q J 8 5
H 5
D 3
C K J 10 9 8 3
South West North East
1 C 1 H Dbl 4 H
4 S Pass Pass 5 H
5 S Dbl All Pass
Opening lead — H K
©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.