Daily Bridge Club Wake-up calls

“Sometimes I wish people had a snooze button,” a club player grumbled to me, “especially people like my partner.”

My friend was today’s West and told me that his partner had complained about the defense and wouldn’t be shut off.

“I led a heart,” West said, “and my partner took the ace and returned the deuce to my jack. I shifted to a diamond, and declarer won and started the trumps. I won the second trump and led a third, but declarer drew trumps and had 10 tricks. My partner said I must have forgotten to set my alarm.”

TRUMP TRICK

West needed a wake-up call. Since East won’t have another high-card trick to contribute, West must try for a second trump trick — with a forcing defense. At Trick Three he leads a third heart, forcing dummy to ruff.

When South starts the trumps next, West ducks twice. If South leads a third trump — he has no better play — West wins and leads his last heart to force out South’s last trump. West wins the setting trick with his long trump.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ K 10 8 4 ♥ 9 5 ♦ KQ 7 3 ♣ J 9 4. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two clubs and you return to two hearts. Partner next bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your preference bid of two hearts promised at most nine points, and your partner would have stopped right there if he saw no chance for game. His two spades suggests extra strength and game interest. Since your values are maximum, you must cooperate. Bid 3NT. South dealer N-S vulnerable