Is the game of bridge unfair?

“Baseball is such an unfair game,” Cy the Cynic said to me. “Line drives are caught, bloop fly balls fall in for hits. It’s just the same as life.”

“And as bridge, on a given deal,” I shrugged.

When I watched today’s deal in my club’s penny game, Cy was West and led the jack of hearts against 3NT. East signaled with the seven. South took his king, led a club to dummy and returned the queen of diamonds to finesse. When East’s king appeared, South tabled his hand and claimed two overtricks.

“No justice,” Cy grumbled.

South broke his bat and got a hit anyway. If West had held the king of diamonds, South would have gone down at a cold game. Since East is certain to have five (or six) hearts for his vulnerable overcall, South should let West’s jack win.

If West leads another heart — as good as anything — East takes the ace and queen, but dummy’s 10 can win the next heart. Even if West has the king of diamonds, the defense will get only that one more trick.

DAILY QUESTION:

You hold: ♠ A4 ♥ 108 52 ◆ QJ1073 ♣ AK. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. You double, and your partner bids two clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner may have a weak hand and a flimsy suit, but if you bid again, you will promise substantial extra strength that you lack. Pass. But some pairs play “equal-level conversion,” and a bid of two diamonds, which would not increase the level of the contract, would not show extra values.