BRIDGE

BOARD-A-MATCH MADNESS

Today’s deal arose in the Reisinger Board-a-Match Teams at the Fall NABC. This event is demanding; just making it to the final day is tough. Your team plays each deal against just one other team. You win it or lose it. Players take risks to try to get an edge. There is a difference between taking reasonable risks and indulging in wild, undisciplined actions. West was wild — or maybe way behind and trying to catch up: He opened a weak two spades on an atypical hand. East’s 2NT asked for more information, and South doubled. East doubled North’s three-diamond response, and when South tried three hearts, West masterminded a double.

CLUB RUFF

East overtook the first spade with the ace to lead a trump. Declarer won in dummy, led a club to his king and conceded a club. He won the next trump, ruffed a club in dummy, came to his ace of diamonds, drew trumps, conceded a club and claimed nine tricks, plus 730. I will say that West’s actions are not my idea of how to play bridge. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ 6 ♥ AK 8 7 3 ♦ A6 ♣K 10 6 4 2. You open one heart, your partner responds one spade, you bid two clubs and he rebids two spades. What do you say? ANSWER: Partner probably has a six-card suit but surely has fewer than 10 points. Since game is most unlikely, and his hand will take some tricks only if his long suit is trumps, pass. A club partscore might be a better spot, but to persist in the face of a probable misfit is wrong. West dealer N-S vulnerable