DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Players embrace varying bidding styles; knowing your partner’s tendencies is more important that what system you use. Today’s North- South weren’t in the same book, much less on the same page. South overcalled one spade, vulnerable, with a ragged suit and skinny high- card values. North clearly expected more. South was at risk at three spades, but East- West went wrong. East took the K-A of hearts and led the jack. If South had ruffed low or high, he would have lost two trumps and a diamond — down one — but South pitched his king of diamonds. South ruffed the diamond return and led the king of trumps. When West played low, South led a club to dummy’ s jack and took the A-K. He ruffed a diamond, ruffed his ten of clubs in dummy and lost only a trump to the ace. East beats three spades by taking his ace of diamonds at Trick Three, then leading a heart. As for the bidding, North- South need to discuss some issues of style, such as what values an overcall promises

DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ 10 8 ♥ 8 2 ♦ Q 9 5 4 ♣ Q 8 6 7 Your partner opens one heart, and the next player overcalls one spade. West in today’s deal! You agree with that action?

ANSWER: I can’t disagree with it; 1 NT was descriptive enough. An option, which some players would have chosen, was a negative double. By agreement, a double would suggest length in both minors with enough values to respond, but not enough to bid two of a minor. East dealer both sides vulnerable