Bridge REBID PROBLEM

WITH BOB JONES response? South felt that he was too good for a non-forcing three-club rebid, and a five-club rebid would show a big distributional hand with no slam interest. He settled on a reverse bid of two hearts.

North contented himself with rebidding his five-card spade suit for the moment, which was forcing after the reverse. South probably should have bid three clubs at this point but he was worried that his partner might pass, so he made the obscure bid of three diamonds. North was happy to raise, and East, who was sure the opponents were not going to end up in a diamond contract, made a lead-directing double of four diamonds.

South had run out of clever bids to make and finally rebid his club suit. North could not have been sure what was going on, but he had a good hand and raised to slam. The auction was bizarre, but the final contract was excellent. There were 12 top tricks! The only thing wrong with this slam was that English expert Paul Hackett was on lead. Hackett led an inspired king of diamonds and shifted brilliantly to the eight of spades. There was now no way for South to take his 12 tricks. He tried to discard two hearts on the king and queen of spades, but Hackett ruffed for down one. We can’t help but feel that justice was served.

Bob Jo n e s w e l c o m e s re a d e r s’ re s p o n s e s sent in care of this newspaper or to With Tannah Hirsch and Bob Jo n e s T r i b u n e Content Agency, LLC., 16650 We stgrove Dr., Suite 175 , Addison, TX 75001. E -mail tcaeditors@tribune.com.