Back to Birmingham

EVERY month, I go to Birmingham, Ala., for dinner and bridge with old friends. We always have interesting deals. Cover today’s West and South cards. Defend as East.

Against 3NT, West leads the four of hearts: eight, jack ... and South plays low.

You know South has the ace of hearts – else his play makes no sense – and West has the queen. West also has the ace of diamonds; he wouldn’t back in with a takeout double with only a queen and a jack in the red suits. You must assume West has the king of clubs to have a chance. He also needs a spade honour for his double, and it must be the queen; the ace would give him an opening bid.

TWO SPADES

If you shift to the seven of spades, South must play the ten. If he takes the ace, he will lose two spades, a heart, a diamond and a club. But then West shifts back to hearts for five tricks.

This defence was marked, but I missed it. (Declarer erred by ducking the first trick.) My only excuse is that I was full of dinner. Sorry, partner.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: Q83 Q954 A 8 7 5 K J. You deal and pass, the next player bids one club, your partner passes and the player at your right responds one spade. In today’s deal, West doubled in this position. Do you agree?

ANSWER

West’s double showed a near-opening bid with length in the red suits. His action was dangerous – the K-J of clubs looked worthless – and might have given the opponents useful information. I would have passed.

West dealer Neither side vulnerable Opening lead – ♥4