Daily Bridge Club In plain sight

Cy the Cynic and I sat down for a duplicate game at the club, and we had no opponents at our table. They showed up five minutes late — a husband-wife pair.

“Sorry,” the wife growled. “We were grocery shopping, and I had to find all the things in plain sight for my husband.”

In today’s deal, the husband became declarer at four hearts after I opened three clubs as East. Cy led the queen of clubs, and I took the ace and returned the jack. Cy ruffed and led a spade: three, queen, ace.

SPADE LOSER

South next took the A-K of trumps. When Cy discarded, South tried to run the diamonds, but I ruffed the third diamond. South was stuck with a spade loser and went down one.

“He’s better at grocery shopping,” the wife grumbled.

South’s winning line was in plain sight. He knew I had held seven clubs, three hearts and at least one spade, so trying to run the diamonds was futile. After South takes the A-K of trumps, he must concede a trump. When I don’t have a spade to lead, South wins the rest.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A 10 5 ♥ A K 7542 ♦ Q J ♣ K 5. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: To double, intending to bid hearts next, would be reasonable. That two-step sequence would suggest at least 17 points. But after your opponent’s opening bid, your Q-J of diamonds are likely to be useless cards, so the hand is not worth its point count. I would settle for a one-heart overcall.

West dealer

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