Daily Bridge Club

Overberried

When I watched today’s deal at the club, South was the dreaded Joe Overberry, who thinks there is honor in trying for overtricks, even at the risk of losing his contract.

North’s four clubs was a “splinter bid,” showing good spade support, club shortness and slam interest. When Joe cue-bid his ace of clubs, North was willing to bid slam.

West found a diamond lead, and Joe took dummy’s ace. He drew trumps and led a heart to finesse with the queen. East took the king, and the defense cashed a diamond.

oVertriCK

“If the king of hearts is right, I make seven,” Joe shrugged. “We might as well have bid a grand slam.”

Meanwhile, North mourned the loss of 1,060 points.

Joe played as if the contract were seven spades, but he was only at six. After he draws trumps, he can lead a heart to the ace. When the king falls, he is home. If East-West played low hearts, Joe would have a second chance: He could lead a club to his queen, hoping to pitch dummy’s last diamond on the ace.

Daily queStion

You hold: ♠ Q J 10 8 4 ♥ 74 ♦ 865 ♣ A Q 4. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he jumps to three diamonds. What do you say?

anSwer: Partner’s jump-shift is forcing to game, so you must act. A rebid of three spades to show your chunky suit would be acceptable. Since your distribution is balanced and you have two stoppers in the unbid suit, bid 3NT. If partner’s hand is shapely, he need not accept that contract. North dealer Neither side vulnerable