Two major suits give a double fit

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE® GARFIELD® BIG NATE® ARLO & JANIS® ZITS®

Rachel Johnson, an English author, editor, journalist and television presenter, said, “Don’t worry about never having time to write. Just write what you can in the time you do have and give yourself a big clap on the back, followed by a double latte and a blueberry muffin.”

Whatever works. It is the same at the bridge table. Use those bidding conventions that appeal to you and will help your partnership to get good results.

As mentioned over the last two days, my wife and I have been experimenting with opening two diamonds to show a weak major two-suiter. It comes up quite often and has been fun. Here is one more deal we had.

East might have overcalled two notrump, despite being a tad strong. However, partner was a passed hand, and the inflexible heart holding was a minus. South was happy to try for game with the known double fit.

What is the killing lead against four hearts?

West chose the club queen. When declarer ducked, West shifted to a friendly spade 10. South won with dummy’s jack and led a trump. East took his two tricks there, then played the club king. Declarer won on the board and led a spade to his eight. When that held and West followed, South claimed. He lost only two hearts and one club.

Interestingly, the lethal lead is a diamond, which disrupts declarer’s communications. True, East has to switch to a low club when in with a high trump or the diamond ace (if South discards a club from the dummy at trick one), but that should be possible to find.