DAILY BRIDGE CLUB
“While the optimist, pessimist and realist argued about the water in the glass, the opportunist came along and drank it.” — graffiti
Today’s North- South bid spades, hearts and clubs on the way to 3NT, so West led the eight of diamonds although his diamond holding was weak. Dummy played low, and East overtook with the nine. Declarer won and led a spade, and when West played “second hand low,” dummy’s king won.
Dummy next led the king of clubs. East took his ace and led a heart, but South won and led a second spade. He ended with 11 tricks: four spades, two hearts, two diamonds and three clubs.
West missed his opportunity. He was on the right track when he led a diamond but must rise with the ace on the first spade to lead another. East can set up the diamonds and get in with the ace of clubs to cash them before South has nine tricks.
South guessed well when he led a club at the third trick. He could always succeed by guessing to lead a club at Trick Two. DAILY QUESTION You hold: partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two diamonds and you try three clubs. Partner then bids three spades. What do you say?
ANSWER: Slam is uncertain. Partner seems to have a singleton club, making your club honors wasted. Still, if he held a minimum such as would have raised directly to two spades, so his actual hand is stronger. Cue- bid four diamonds to try for slam. North dealer N- S vulnerable