Daily Bridge Club

Friday, April 2, 2021 Gloat or goat?

“I’m proud of the anti-gloating cream I invented. But I’m not going to rub it in.” — graffiti

“Cy is becoming insufferable,” Rose told me in the club lounge. “He gloats over a good result.”

In that day’s penny game, Cy became declarer at 3NT. He won the first heart with the king and let the queen of spades ride. West won and led another heart, and the Cynic had only eight tricks. When he led a diamond to his hand and returned a club, West won and cashed three hearts for down one. Cy was silent.

“Played like a goat,” North grumbled.

FIRST HEART

West is likely to have the ace of clubs for his vulnerable overcall. Cy should win the first heart in his hand and lead a club. If West plays low, Cy puts up dummy’s king, then attacks the spades for nine tricks.

If West wins the first club, Cy is still safe as the cards lie. Cy wins the heart return and takes the king of clubs. He has 10 tricks when East’s queen falls. If instead EastWest played low, Cy could cash four diamonds, then judge whether to finesse in spades.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A 9 6 ♥ A 6 ♦ A Q 10 3 ♣ 8 7 5 2. You open one diamond. Your partner bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: To bid 1NT to show a minimum balanced hand would be reasonable. I would bid two spades. Raising a major-suit response with three-card support is often best with a suitable hand, and this hand qualifies: It has weak clubs and a ruffing feature in hearts. By the way, I open one club with this pattern but would make an exception here.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable