DAILY BRIDGE CLUB
When I watched today’s deal at the club, West was John Underwood, known as “the Undertaker” because he tries to beat contracts by three tricks — and therefore may not beat them at all.
John is never willing to accept a small profit on defense. When NorthSouth got to 3NT, John doubled: He had a solid diamond suit plus two fast entries. North had enough strength to chance a redouble.
John led the queen of diamonds, and declarer took dummy’s king and had no trouble visualizing the deal. He came to his king of hearts and led the six of spades. John had to play low; if he put up the ace, South would have four spades, three hearts and two diamonds.
When dummy won, South forced out the ace of clubs and had three clubs, three hearts, a spade and two diamonds. North-South were plus 1,000.
John’s double backfired. If he passes, South may still take nine tricks, but the winning line of play won’t be clear. If South leads a spade to his king at Trick Two, he will fail.
Daily question
You hold: ♠ QJ532 ♥ A73
♦ K ♣ Q 10 7 3. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids two diamonds. What do you say?
Answer: This is a judgment call. Experts might support bids of 2NT, 3NT, three clubs and four hearts. I could accept any of those actions, but my instinct would be to support partner’s first suit but not to bid game because some of the blacksuit honors may be wasted. I would jump to three hearts, invitational. South dealer
Both sides vulnerable