Monday, March 5, 2018

Out for the count

Today’s deal reminds me of a man who was injured when a cascade of books fell on his head — and he had only his shelf to blame.

West led the deuce of spades against six hearts, and East won and returned a spade to the king. Declarer drew all the trumps, shrugged and led a club to dummy’s king. On the next club, East showed out, and South lost a club to West. Down one.

Could South successfully find the queen of clubs? LAST TRUMP

South wasn’t blameless. After he wins the second spade, he should endeavor to get a count. He takes the ace of diamonds, ruffs a diamond, and gets to dummy with trumps to ruff two more diamonds. South then draws the last trump.

At that point, South knows East-West had four diamonds each, and West had no trumps and presumably four spades for his lead of the deuce. Hence, West likely had five clubs. So South can lead a club to his ace to see which club East had. He can then let the jack ride confidently.

This week: counting practice.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 93 ♥ A 10 9 6 ♦ A7 6 4 ♣ K 5 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: If in your partnership a jump-preference in opener’s minor invites game, a bid of three diamonds is ideal. If that bid would be forcing, you are in a bind. Underbid with two diamonds, overbid with three diamonds, or bid two clubs (the “fourth suit”) if that is your way to start an invitational sequence. East dealer N-S vulnerable