BRIDGE

Monday, February 12

Players embrace varying bidding styles; knowing your partner’s tendencies is more important than what system you use.

Today’s North-South weren’t in the same book, much less on the same page. South overcalled one spade, vulnerable, with a ragged suit and skinny high-card values. North clearly expected more.

South was at risk at three spades, but East-West went wrong. East took the K-A of hearts and led the jack. If South had ruffed low or high, he would have lost two trumps and a diamond — down one — but South pitched his king of diamonds.

South ruffed the diamond return and led the king of trumps. When West played low, South led a club to dummy’s jack and took the A-K. He ruffed a diamond, ruffed his 10 of clubs in dummy and lost only a trump to the ace.

East beats three spades by taking his ace of diamonds at Trick Three, then leading a heart. As for the bidding, North-South need to discuss some issues of style, such as what values an overcall promises.

DAILY QUESTION:

You hold: ♠ A108 ♥ 82 ◆ Q954 ♣ Q 8 7 6. Your partner opens one heart, and the next player overcalls one spade. West in today’s deal bid 1NT with this hand. Do you agree with that action?

ANSWER: I can’t disagree with it; 1NT was descriptive enough. An option, which some players would have chosen, was a negative double. By agreement, a double would suggest length in both minors with enough values to respond, but not enough to bid two of a minor.