Daily Bridge Club

A rewarding pastime

This week I’m touting the many rewards of duplicate bridge. (See acbl.org.) Every player should give duplicate a try. I still recall my first win in a local club game. I was ecstatic — and hooked. You need not be an expert to compete. Many clubs offer events for beginners. But in any game, basic good technique will serve you well.

Today’s deal arose in a club game. (Many clubs post deals and results online; you can see where you did well and poorly.) Some North-Souths got to 6NT. West would have led a spade against 3NT, but against the slam he properly led the jack of diamonds.

two clubs

I suspect South played four rounds of diamonds, and West took the ten. Dummy threw two clubs. East let go a club and a spade. West then led the ten of clubs.

South had to guess the queen of hearts. Since East had not discarded a heart and was known to have only two diamonds — so more “room” for hearts — South might have guessed right. In fact, only one South made 6NT for a top score.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ K 10 7 ♥ AJ96 ♦ K 5 ♣ A 6 5 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you bid one heart and

he raises to two hearts. What do you say?

answer: You must bid game. To jump to four hearts would be acceptable, especially if in your style partner’s raise promises four-card support. But it costs nothing to try 3NT to give him a choice. He will often return to four hearts, but if he raised you with three-card support and a suitable hand, he can pass. South dealer N-S vulnerable