DAILY BRIDGE CLUB
Most people are pretty honest — except maybe when their dentist asks how often they’ve been flossing. But winning bridge players have a streak of dishonesty.
In a team match, both Souths played at 3NT, and West led a spade to East’s ace. At one table, declarer followed with an honest deuce. East knew that West had only four spades and at most one jack; a spade return wouldn’t defeat the contract. So East shifted hopefully to the king of hearts.
South took the ace and finessed in clubs, but when East had the king, the defense cashed three heart
At the second table, South found a devious way home. Confident that West had led from a four- card spade suit, South dropped his queen under East’s ace. East thought that West had led from 10- 8- 6- 3- 2, so East returned a second spade.
South took his king and lost a club finesse, but after the defense cashed two spades, South had the rest. If honesty is the best policy, dishonesty may run a close second. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠A J 5 4 ♥ K Q 9 6 ♦9 7 6 ♣ K 5. You are the dealer. What is your opening call?
ANSWER: When “fourcard majors” was the predominant style, the correct opening bid would have been one heart. The current “five- card majors” style often requires opening with “prepared bids” in a three- card minor. Hold your nose and open one diamond, which is obligatory with, and only with, 4- 4- 3- 2 pattern. Never open one club on a two- card “suit.” South dealer N- S vulnerable