Bridge Play

You’re serving on a grand jury, investigating the result of today’s deal. Decide whether to issue any true bills.

North-South got to six hearts. North’s jump to four hearts said his hand wasn’t totally hopeless. When West led the king of diamonds, South won, took the A-Q of trumps and tried the A-K and a third club, ruffing in dummy. When East discarded, South ruffed a diamond and drew trumps, but he had to lose a club and a spade.

What say you?

THIRD CLUB

South can make the slam.

He starts the clubs at Trick

Two but discards a spade from dummy on the third club instead of ruffing. Say West shifts to a trump. South wins, ruffs a club high, takes the ace of spades and ruffs his last spade low. He can win the rest.

I might indict South for missing that good line of play, but West’s opening lead was criminal. North’s bidding showed a weak hand with heart support, maybe with club shortness, and West had club tricks to protect. If West leads a trump, the slam is unmakeable.

You hold: J952 53

♦ KQJ Q 10 9 5. Your partner opens one diamond, the next player bids one heart and you double (negative). Your partner bids two spades. What do you say?

In this auction, partner’s call is not a strong “jumpshift.” He is “raising” the suit your double showed and may have a hand such as K Q 6 3, J 6 4, A 10 9 6,

K 4. Pass. If he bid one spade, he would hold a hand such as K Q 6, 10 6 4, A 10 9 6, K J 3.

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC