Bridge Crucial deal in Atlanta

Today’s deal was crucial in the Spingold Teams final. Andrew ROSENTHAL had just nosed ahead of Piotr GAWRYS in the third quarter.

At one table, East-west for GAWRYS were plus 140 at three spades. In the replay, Geir Helgemo-tor Helness, Northsouth for GAWRYS, played at four hearts. (East’s one-heart bid conventionally showed spade length; West’s double showed three cards in spades.)

West led the king of spades, winning, and shifted to the king of clubs (not best). When he continued with the queen of spades, Helness won and a diamond to dummy’s king.

OPENING BID

East paused before playing low, betraying that he held the ace, so Helness placed West with the queen of trumps for his opening bid. Helness ruffed a club and let the ten of trumps ride. He ruffed his last spade in dummy, took the king of trumps, ruffed a club, drew trumps, lost a diamond to the ace and had the rest for plus 620, a 13-IMP gain.

So GAWRYS retook the lead and eventually prevailed, 131 to 98.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ K Q 2 ♥ Q 9 5 ♦ 32

♣ K Q 10 8 7. Your partner opens one diamond, you bid two clubs, he rebids two diamonds and you try 2NT. Partner then rebids three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Some players might have bid 3NT at your second turn, but since you settled for an invitational bid, you can’t change your mind and bid game when partner signs off. Pass. His three diamonds says he wants no part of game or notrump. Respect his judgment.

West dealer

Both sides vulnerable