Daily Bridge Club

Sin boldly!

Another sign beside a church in my town: “Don’t judge other people just because they sin differently from you.”

In a duplicate event, most North-Souths got to six spades.

West led a heart, and South won and drew trumps. Many Souths then took the top clubs. When no honor fell, South led a third club, hoping for a 3-3 break, but East took the jack and led the queen. Declarer ruffed, led a diamond to the ace and finessed with the jack. West produced the queen for down one.

REASONABLE

It was a reasonable line, and going down couldn’t be termed sinful. Only one South found a winning line. He took the ace of clubs at Trick Three but next led a low club. This play was an almost sure bet. As the cards lay, East won and had to lead a diamond: A club return would give South three club tricks, and a heart would concede a ruff-sluff.

South played low from his hand, and when West put up the queen, South was home. If West held the ten of diamonds, South would still have had chances.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 2 ♥ K J 10 7 6 4 3 ♦ Q8 6 ♣ 8 3. Your partner opens one club. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: You could describe your hand with a jump to three hearts, showing the same type of hand as would an opening bid of three hearts. But many pairs treat such a jump as a “splinter bid,” showing good club support and a singleton heart. Either approach is playable, but you and your partner must agree on what your approach will be. West dealer Both sides vulnerable