DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“Your honor,” the district attorney announced, “we will prove that East committed a felony in that, due to negligence, he allowed South to make a vulnerable game.”

“Proceed,” the judge ordered, and the court kibitzed the evidence.

“North-South bid aggressively to 3NT,” the DA began. “After North freely rebid two diamonds, he had nothing extra and might have passed South’s 2NT. West led the four of spades: seven, king, ace. South next let the 10 of diamonds ride. When East won, he returned ... the jack of spades.

“Declarer produced the queen and ran the diamonds. He was sure of nine tricks, but at the end, he took the ace of clubs and greedily finessed with his jack. East had pitched a club, so South made two overtricks. But if East shifts to a low heart at the third trick, the defense wins four hearts for down one.”

“My client is innocent,” East’s mouthpiece roared. “To fault him for returning a spade is absurd. The winning defense required a crystal ball.” Was East guilty?

South’s redouble promised at least 10 points, and if he has all the missing points, the contract is unbeatable. East can be sure that South has the queen of spades, otherwise he would have held up his ace. If South’s hand is A Q x, K x x x, 10 x, J x x x, East can’t defeat 3NT. If he returns the jack of spades, South will play low, win the next spade and force out the ace of hearts to set up his ninth trick.

East erred. His only real hope is that South has the K-J of clubs and West has the king of hearts. North dealer

Both sides vulnerable