FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

AND SOMETIMES “Y”

As I sat in the club lounge, my friend the English professor asked if I’d heard about an odd string of deaths in a nearby city. Evidence indicated that the victims — named Adams, Evans, Irwin, Oates and Underwood — died under suspicious circumstances. According to the prof, the media had dubbed them the a-e-i-o-u murders.

“Vowel play is suspected,” the prof said blandly. I groaned. Mayhem

On top of that, today’s declarer committed mayhem at 3NT. He won the first heart with the jack and took the A-K of clubs. With a 3-2 break, he could have conceded a club, setting up two long clubs in dummy. But when clubs broke 4-1, the contract expired: South took only two clubs, a spade, two diamonds and three hearts.

Unless South feels sorry for East-West, he must play low from dummy on the first club. He wins the next heart and leads a low club from dummy. He can win any return and take the A-K and dummy’s fifth club to assure nine tricks. You would make 3NT, I bet. Daily Question

You hold: ♠ 842 ♥ A7 ♦ 7 6 2 ♣ A K 8 5 3. Your partner opens one heart, the next player overcalls one spade, you bid two clubs and the player at your left raises to two spades. Your partner then bids three hearts. What do you say? Answer: Nothing forced partner to bid freely when he could have passed your opponent’s bid of two spades to consult you. He must have a good heart suit and should have more than minimum strength as well. Bid four hearts. South dealer N-S vulnerable