Daily Bridge Club

Visiting Louisville

In April, I had the pleasure of lecturing and playing at the wonderful Louisville (Ky.) Bridge Center. Everyone I met was most gracious.

I sat East in today’s deal, and West led the king of diamonds against four hearts. I could see that if West had the A-K of diamonds, South had every other meaningful high card; we could get two diamonds and nothing else. Even if South held A 10 4, Q 7 5 3 2, 4 2, A Q 4, dummy’s queen of diamonds would furnish a pitch for his spade loser.

Since there was a chance that we might lose our second diamond trick, I signaled with the nine. West took his ace, and South claimed, making five.

DULL DEAL

Some Easts played the three on the first diamond. West should have cashed his second diamond anyway, but if he shifted, South could throw a diamond on dummy’s king of spades and make six. The lesson: Help your partner avoid mistakes on defense.

Kindest regards to my friends at the LBC, including my partner, Joe Gottbrath, whose good play helped us to a winning score.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 9 8 5 4 ♥ J 6 ♦ A K J 8 7 ♣ Q 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he rebids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your 11-point hand was worth a game-invitational sequence. You bid one spade because your hand wasn’t strong enough to respond two diamonds, then bid a forcing and unlimited two spades next. Since partner’s rebid of two hearts promises six or more hearts, your best action now is a raise to three hearts. South dealer Both sides vulnerable