“Justice is best served cold. If served warm, it’s justwater.” — graffiti
Justice was served at room temperature in today’s deal. North-South got to a good slam after North’s jump to three hearts showed three strong hearts. South won the diamond opening lead and took the A-K of trumps — and East threw icewater on the contract when he discarded. South lost two trumps to West and went down only one when the spade finesse worked.
“No justice,” South said. “The queen of trumps might have fallen.”
BEST CHANCE
South got what he deserved. At Trick Two he should finesse in spades. If East had the king, South would later take the A-K of trumps, his best chance to pick up the trumps.
When the spade finesse wins, South can play safe to avoid two trump losers. He takes the ace, returns to his hand and leads the eight, planning to let it ride if West has played the six and seven. If West shows out on the second trump, South takes the king and leads a third trump toward his jack.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A Q 6 2 H A K 4 D 6 4 3 C Q 7 3. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade and he next bids two clubs. What do you say?
ANSWER: To jump to 3NT would be defensible: You have a balanced 15 points with the unbid suit stopped. Still, you have prime values, and partner’s hand is not well defined. He could have a hand such as 4,65,AKJ82,AK1065 that would make a slam. Bid two hearts and let partner continue to describe his hand.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A Q 6 2
H A K 4
D 6 4 3
C Q 7 3
WEST
S K 9 3
H Q 10 7 6
D J 10 9 2
C 10 4
EAST
S J 10 7 4
H 5
D 8 7 5
C J 9 8 6 5
SOUTH
S 8 5
H J 9 8 3 2
D A K Q
C A K 2
North East South West
1 C Pass 1 H Pass
1 S Pass 2 D Pass
3 H Pass 6 H All Pass
Opening lead — D J
©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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