Daily Bridge Club

Criminal activity

Cy the Cynic says that in today’s legal system, an accused person is innocent until proven guilty — or maybe guilty until proven wealthy. But many bridge-table crimes are undeniable.

At 3NT (not North-South’s best contract), South took the king of spades, unblocked his high diamonds and tried to reach dummy by leading a low club to the queen. When East won, dummy was seriously dead. East then returned a spade, and when West got in with the ace of hearts, he cashed three spades for down one.

Did South engage in any criminal activity? DIAMOND TRICKS

South misplayed. After he takes his high diamonds, he must lead the jack of clubs. If East wins to return a spade, South wins and reaches dummy with the queen of clubs to run the diamonds. He wins six diamond tricks, two spades and a club.

If instead East ducks the jack of clubs, South is still safe. He leads the king of hearts to West’s ace, wins the spade return and has three diamonds, two hearts, two spades and two clubs. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ Q 10 6 5 3 ♥ A94 ♦ 10 ♣ 10 8 6 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade and he bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: As much as you might want to pass (and that might happen to be a winning action), partner’s second bid is a “reverse” and is absolutely forcing. Some pairs agree that it is forcing to game. Bid 2NT. In some styles, to rebid your five-card spade suit would be systemically correct. South dealer N-S vulnerable