BRIDGE

Millard Pringle played in a team game at my club today. He gets lost in the maze of defensive “rules.”

At both tables, West led the queen of spades against four hearts. At one table, West continued with the jack and a third spade. South ruffed and played carefully: He took the K-Q of trumps next.

If trumps had split 3-2, South would have claimed. When West discarded, declarer started the diamonds. East ruffed the second diamond and led a club, but South took the ace, drew East’s last trump with the ace and finished the diamonds to pitch his remaining clubs. Making four.

Millard was East at the other table, and at Trick Two West led the 10 of spades. When dummy played low, Millard paused. He should have known West held the jack; South would have covered the queen with the king if he had it. But “third hand high” won out: Millard put up the ace!

Millard then led a club, and South was doomed: He had to lose a club plus a trump.

Question: You hold: ♠ 53 ♥K Q 5 4 2 ♦ K 5 ♣ A Q 5 4. You open one heart, and your partner responds two diamonds. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: You must rebid two hearts. In most partnerships, this rebid doesn’t promise more than five hearts (as would a rebid of two hearts after a response of one spade). Your hand isn’t strong enough for a “high reverse” to three clubs, nor is a bid of 2NT attractive with a weak spade holding. North dealer Both sides vulnerable