BRIDGE

STYLISTIC ISSUES

Players embrace varying bidding styles; knowing your partner’s tendencies is more important that what system you use. Today’s North-South weren’t in the same book, much less on the same page. South overcalled one spade, vulnerable, with a ragged suit and skinny high-card values. North clearly expected more. South was at risk at three spades, but East-West went wrong. East took the K-A of hearts and led the jack. If South had ruffed low or high, he would have lost two trumps and a diamond — down one — but South pitched his king of diamonds.

CLUB FINESSE

South ruffed the diamond return and led the king of trumps. When West played low, South led a club to dummy’s jack and took the A-K. He ruffed a diamond, ruffed his ten of clubs in dummy and lost only a trump to the ace. East beats three spades by taking his ace of diamonds at Trick Three, then leading a heart. As for the bidding, North-South need to discuss some issues of style, such as what values an overcall promises.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A 10 8 ♥ 82 ♦ Q95 4 ♣ Q 8 7 6. Your partner opens one heart, and the next player overcalls one spade. West in today’s deal bid 1NT with this hand. Do you agree with that action? ANSWER: I can’t disagree with it; 1NT was descriptive enough. An option, which some players would have chosen, was a negative double. By agreement, a double would suggest length in both minors with enough values to respond, but not enough to bid two of a minor. East dealer Both sides vulnerable