To start the week, try a defensive problem. Cover the East and South cards and defend as West. North’s hand was too strong to open 1NT. When South raised to two clubs, North probed with two hearts. South showed a maximum 1NT response with the other suits stopped.
You lead the five of diamonds: ace, deuce, seven. At Trick Two, dummy leads a spade: ten from East, king … How do you defend?
To duck isn’t safe. South has the queen of diamonds, both from the bidding and from East’s discouraging signal. If he has five clubs and the queen of spades, he will have nine tricks.
SHIFT
South’s weak spot is probably hearts, so a heart shift is indicated, but you must take care to lead the nine. Dummy’s ten covers, and East wins with the jack and returns the three to your king. Then your deuce goes through dummy’s queen-six to East’s ace-eight.
To lead the deuce first won’t do; the suit will be blocked, and you can’t get all four heart tricks. Did you beat the contract?
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 8 7 3 H Q 10 6 4 D A K 4 C A K Q. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. You double, and your partner responds (“advances”) two hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: This particular auction is awkward; you lack room to investigate for game. Since partner’s bid promises nothing, and you have three spade losers and only fair hearts, to pass might be a winning call. Still, game is possible; he might hold 42,KJ873,Q87,876. Bid three hearts.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 8 7 3
H Q 10 6 4
D A K 4
C A K Q
WEST
S A 6 4
H K 9 2
D J 9 8 5 3
C 8 4
EAST
S 10 9 5 2
H A J 8 3
D 10 2
C 7 6 2
SOUTH
S K Q J
H 7 5
D Q 7 6
C J 10 9 5 3
North East South West
1 C Pass 2 C Pass
2 H Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — D 5
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