Bridge

Declarer won the king, led a club to the ace and rode the queen of diamonds to the king. East returned a heart driving out the ace. The ace of spades was followed by four club winners ending in hand, the last of which squeezed East in spades and diamonds. He parted with a spade but the play of the spade king dropped the queen, resulting in twelve tricks, N- S + 690. A diamond pitch would have permitted declarer to win three diamond tricks. North could have chosen to respond three spades as a splinter revealing a singleton spade, three hearts and 5- 4 in the minors with at least game values. The problem with this treatment is that the singleton should not be either the ace or king.

He rejected this action and adopted a conservative approach by boosting to the nine- trick game. The 5- 5 club fit remained buried. Some partnerships employ a two spade reply as a relay to three clubs, normally as an out at the three- level in a minor. North could continue, in this scenario, with three spades disclosing shortness and game values but the singleton ace was the wrong holding.

Six clubs is icy although I witnessed one South go down in the slam when West began with a diamond. He, unwisely, finessed as East won and delivered the ruff. Author: Dave Willis - visit his website at www. insidebridge. ca Questions on bridge can be sent with a stamped, self- addressed envelope to The New Canadian Bridge c/ o Torstar Syndication Services, One Yonge St., Toronto, M5E 1E6.