Bridge

When I watched today’s deal in a rubber game at my club, North-South were a dentist and a manicurist — a pair we call “Tooth and Nail”

because that’s how they argue.

East-West bid to three clubs. When Nail went to three hearts, Tooth pushed on to game. Nail won the first club with the king and led a trump to her king, and West happily took the ace, jack and queen. Nail won the next club and cashed her remaining trumps, but East clung to his diamonds. So Nail lost a diamond and a spade for down two.

Then came the inevitable “discussion“:

Nail: “Why did you bid four hearts? My three hearts was strictly competitive.”

Tooth: “I had maximum values for my raise to two hearts. My king of clubs behind the club overcaller looked to be worth as much as an ace.”

Nail: “You should have passed three hearts without looking at your hand. You gave me a choice between defending three clubs or playing at four hearts.”

Tooth: “You didn’t take even nine tricks, so what’s the big deal?”

Nail had the better argument. If South had been interested in game, she could have invited by bidding three diamonds over three clubs. Moreover, if South is declarer at three hearts, she can play safe to make it. She can take the king of clubs and let the six of trumps ride. West will take the jack and lead another club, but South can abandon trumps and start the diamonds. She can ruff her fourth diamond in dummy, losing three trumps and a spade.

And that’s the whole tooth and nothing but.