FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

A BAG OF CHIPS

“Some people have a chip on their shoulder,” a reader’s email says, “but my partner dumps a whole canister of Pringles into his mouth at once. He doesn’t get upset — as long as everything goes right.”

My reader was today’s East, and North-South landed at three spades on some illogical bidding. West led the ace and queen of hearts.

“I ruffed dummy’s king,” my fan writes, “and led a diamond. Declarer took the ace and led trumps. My partner won, cashed the jack of hearts and led another diamond, but declarer won, drew trumps and led a club. He got rid of his last diamond on a high club and made the contract.” Trick Three “My partner looked like Vesuvius ready to erupt. He said there was no rush for me to lead a diamond at Trick Three. If I lead a club, he can

lead a second club, killing dummy, when he takes the ace of trumps. South loses five tricks.” West was asking a lot of his partner. The winning defense wasn’t clear. South’s hand could have been A K Q J 8, 10 6 5, K 10 6, 6 4. Daily Question

You hold: ♠ A 4 ♥ A Q J 9 4 3 ♦ Q7 6 ♣ Q 5. After two passes, the player at your right opens one diamond. You overcall one heart, and your partner bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: I wouldn’t leave partner dangling at one spade when he didn’t open a weak two-bid and may not have a six-card suit. A bid of 1NT or two hearts would be reasonable. Some players (who would have overcalled with less strength) would jump to three hearts. West dealer

Both sides vulnerable