FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

BIG LIES

Cy the Cynic says the most common misstatement may be “The check is in the mail,” but “You don’t need to write that down; I’ll remember it” runs a close second.

At bridge, memory aids — such as writing down the cards as they are played — are forbidden, but some players might find them helpful. Against today’s five diamonds, East took two high clubs and led a trump. South drew trumps and tried to place the queen of spades. Playing East, who had bid, for that card, South led a spade from dummy to his jack. Down one. “Get a count of the distribution and you won’t go wrong,” North remarked. “I can’t remember all that stuff,” South growled.

Sure Thing

After South draws trumps, he takes the top hearts, ruffs a heart, ruffs his last club in dummy and ruffs a heart. He finds that West had two clubs, two trumps and three hearts, hence six spades. So South’s spade guess becomes a sure thing. Counting requires practice and focus but is simple in principle. Anyone can do it.

Daily Question You hold:

♠ A J 3 ♥ 7 2 ♦ A K J 10 4 ♣ 8 4 3. You open one diamond, your partner bids one spade, you raise to two spades and he tries 2NT. What do you say? Answer: This is a tough guess. To pass or, if the cards lie well, to raise to 3NT might be a winning action. Since you have no strength in either unbid suit, to bid three diamonds — suggesting five or six diamonds, only three spades and a minimum hand — would be the choice of many experts.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable