Daily Bridge Club

Examine the evidence

You’ve been called to serve on a grand jury (lucky you), investigating the result in today’s deal from a team match.

At one table, North-South bid as shown to four hearts. South ruffed West’s second high diamond, led a trump to the queen, took the ace of clubs, ruffed a diamond and drew trumps. That left him with none, so when West took the king of clubs, he ran the diamonds. Down two.

At the other table, the auction began the same way, but North bid four spades at his last turn. East led a diamond, and when West shifted to a trump, the result was down two again.

Do you hand down any indictments?

NO SPADES

The second North might well have passed four hearts. Would it have mattered? Maybe, because that contract was cold.

After South ruffs the second diamond, he should take the ace of clubs and overtake the queen of hearts to cash the ace, king and jack. South then forces out the king of clubs. He retains trump control and loses one trump, one club and one diamond.

DAILY QUESTION

opens one club, you respond one diamond, he bids one spade and you try two hearts. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has five or six clubs and four spades. He wasn’t willing to bid notrump at his third turn, but he hasn’t denied a bit of extra strength. Your best contract is uncertain; slam is possible. Bid three diamonds, forcing. Partner may hold A J 6 5, 2, 10 8, A Q J 6 5 3. South dealer N-S vulnerable