BRIDGE
“You may view bridge as a box of chocolates,” Unlucky Louie sighed. “If you were in my place, you’d think it was a jar of jalapeño peppers.”
Louie blames his adverse results on bad luck despite all the evidence to the contrary. When he became declarer at today’s 3NT after a transfer auction, West led a spade. Louie captured East’s jack, cashed the ace of hearts and finessed with dummy’s jack. East produced the queen and returned a spade.
Louie played low and won the third spade but had only eight tricks. When he led a diamond, West pounced with his ace and cashed two spades for down one.
“My finesses never win,” Louie groaned.
Louie’s play was sour. At Trick Two he should lead a diamond. If West plays low, dummy’s queen wins, and Louie can shift to hearts for at least nine sure tricks.
If, instead, West grabs the ace of diamonds to continue spades, Louie ducks, wins the third spade and finesses in hearts. He is all but certain to make his game.
Question: You hold: ♠ Q 10765 ♥ 53 ♦ A754 ♣ 10 8. The dealer, at your left, opens three hearts. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say? Answer: This is a close decision. Your partner promises a hand worth at least 17 points with support for the other suits (or a strong hand with his own good suit). If vulnerable, bid four spades. You will be a heavy favorite if partner has ahandsuchasKJ92,94,K Q6,AK76.