The Denver Post

LIFE & CULTURE

“My wife asked what I wanted for Christmas,” a club player grumbled to me. “I said I wanted her to let me win an argument. When we have a defensive mix-up,

- By Frank Stewart

she always finds a way to blame me.”

My friend was today’s East, and his wife led a heart against four spades.

“I took the ace,” East said, “and suspected that South had no more hearts. At the second trick, I led the ace of diamonds, hoping my wife had the king. She played the deuce, so I next led a club. Declarer lost only one more trick to the ace of trumps, making four.”

“My wife asked why I hadn’t continued diamonds. I said her deuce was a discouragi­ng signal, but she wouldn’t listen. She said I’d had a plan and should have stuck with it.”

My friend wins an argument, for once. His wife led him astray. Since she doesn’t want a club shift — and has the ace of trumps as a sure entry to give East a ruff — she must signal with a high diamond at Trick Two. East can get a diamond ruff for the setting trick.

Daily Question: You hold: & 652 h A Q10942 ( A7 $ 9 6. Both sides vulnerable. East in today’s deal opened two hearts (weak) with this hand. Do you agree with his action?

Answer: Most experts would deem the hand too strong for a weak two-bid. Two “Quick Tricks” are considered a maximum for a weak two, and this hand has two and a half, plus good heart spots. I would accept two hearts in first or second seat, vulnerable. I would also accept one heart.

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