Keep options open when possible

Walt Disney said, “I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing — that it was all started by a mouse.” In what year was Mickey first drawn?

An auction usually starts with one of a suit. Sometimes it grinds to a halt at a low level; more often it climbs to a game contract; and rarely it reaches the nose-bleed heights of a small or grand slam.

When the right strain is clear, try to decide on the correct level as quickly as possible. But when the strain is in doubt, investigate as many options as you can.

In this deal, for example, how should the auction continue after the three bids given?

At my table, North raised to three no-trump — a very poor choice. Yes, declarer took all 13 tricks after a spade lead and a misdefense, but if the club finesse had lost, he might have gone down (spades were 5-3) with six diamonds cold.

Over two no-trump, North must rebid three diamonds. Then South should continue with three hearts, implying weakness in spades. After that, I like something along these lines: three spades - four clubs - four diamonds - four hearts - four spades - six diamonds pass.

Getting to six in a pairs game usually guarantees a good score. Here, to make seven, South has to take the club finesse.

At the Saint Louis Bridge Center, six pairs out of 41 reached a slam, and one of those went down in six clubs. At the Common Game, which combines clubs from all over the country, 16 out of 194 pairs bid a small slam.

Mickey Mouse was created in 1928.