Daily Bridge Club

Friday, May 4, 2018

In case you aren’t a fan of classic sci-fi movies, today is “Star Wars” Day. (May the fourth ... be with you.)

A strategy the defenders can adopt is a forcing game. They make declarer ruff so many times that he runs out of trumps. Then he may not be able to enjoy his side-suit tricks.

Today’s West leads the nine of diamonds against four hearts, and East’s king wins. How should East continue? ACE OF SPADES

To have a chance, East must assume West has the ace of spades. If South had two low spades, East would have no worries, but on the bidding and the play to the first trick, South will have a singleton. Even so, East has four trumps, so he will be in control if he makes declarer ruff twice.

If East leads a low spade, West will win and return a spade, but when East plays the king, South ruffs and is safe: Dummy has a spade winner to protect him from the force. To prevail, East must lead the king of spades first, then a low spade.

May the force be with you on defense. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ K765 ♥ A532 ♦ K 6 2 ♣ 9 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: Should you settle for a chance-giving raise to two spades or take stronger action? With some 10point hands I would prefer a single raise, but this hand has a side ace and a “working” king of diamonds. Bid three spades, invitational. Partner would pass two spades with A 9 3 2, K 4, A Q J 5, 8 7 6. East dealer Neither side vulnerable