BRIDGE

“How’s your daughter doing?” I asked Unlucky Louie.

“She’s struggling with a course in classical literature,” Louie said. “She told me that a lack of knowledge about Greek mythology is her Achilles’ elbow.”

Bridge involves technical knowledge as well as experience and focus. At today’s grand slam, South won the first diamond with the king and took the A-K of trumps. When West discarded, declarer continued with the ace and a third diamond. He would have been safe if diamonds had split 3-3 or if East held four, but as it was, East ruffed for down one.

South’s technique was lacking. He can cash the ace of clubs at Trick Two, then take dummy’s high hearts to pitch his jack of clubs. He ruffs a club with a high trump and gets to dummy with the king and queen of trumps to ruff two more clubs high.

South can then draw the missing trump, go to the ace of diamonds to discard a diamond on the good fifth club and win the 13th trick with his last high diamond.

Question: You hold: ♠ AJ 10974 ♥ 6 ♦ KQ72 ♣ A J. You open one spade, your partner bids two hearts, you rebid two spades and he tries 2NT. What do you say?

Answer: If your hand had been any stronger, you might have bid three spades or three diamonds at your second turn. Since partner has invited game, you must make sure you get there. Bid four spades. A bid of three diamonds would show six spades and four diamonds but minimum values. North dealer N-S vulnerable