DAILY BRIDGE CLUB
“My partner claims to have one of those — what do you call them? — photostatic memories,” a club player told me, “but I don’t believe him. In this deal he went down at a cold slam.”
At six spades, South discarded a diamond on dummy’s ace of clubs and drew trumps. He took the A- K of hearts and ruffed a heart, and the Q- J fell from East.
“My partner ruffed dummy’s last club and threw a diamond from dummy on his ten of hearts,” North said, “but then he led the ace and a low diamond. He lost two diamonds to East. Anybody with a working short- term memory would make the contract.”
After declarer took the ten of hearts, he knew West had at least seven clubs for his preempt, four hearts and one trump. Since West could have one diamond at most, South would probably go down by cashing the ace.
South must instead play a low diamond from both hands. If West wins, he must concede a ruff- sluff. If East wins, he must return a diamond from the king or concede a ruffsluff. DAILY QUESTION You hold: partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he jumps to three hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: Partner’s jump- rebid in his suit promises about 16 high- card points with a good six- card suit or ( rarely) a sevencard suit. Slam is almost certain. If he holds K Q, ! " # $ % & ' hearts would be reasonable. If you prefer to probe for a grand slam, bid four clubs. South dealer N- S vulnerable