Overberried

“SOMEONE told me Joe Overberry was a plumber,” Unlucky Louie said.

“I assume he wasn’t using the term in a derogatory sense,” I said.

“I’m not surprised.” Cy the Cynic observed. “That explains all the pipe dreams he has when he’s declarer.”

Joe Overberry thinks it’s nobler to go down trying for an overtrick than to make his bid. As declarer at today’s four spades, Joe ruffed the second heart, led a diamond to dummy’s ace and returned a trump to his jack.

EIGHT TRICKS

West won and led another heart, and Joe ruffed again and took the A-K of trumps. He would have been safe with a 3-3 break, but when East discarded, Joe could win only eight tricks.

Joe was unrepentant, of course; his play might have produced two overtricks. But for 10 tricks, Joe should start the trumps with the A-K, keeping control. He then runs the diamonds. West can ruff the third diamond and lead a heart, but Joe ruffs and continues diamonds, losing only one more trick to West’s queen of trumps.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ AK J 10 9 ♥3 ♦ KQ J 8 3 ♣ A 10. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, bids one club. What do you say?

ANSWER: Some players would double, planning to bid spades next. But with a two-suited hand, you would rather start to show your suits instead of spending a round of bidding to double. Some players would test the upper limit of an overcall by bidding one spade. They would hope someone bid so they could show the diamonds next.