Disruptive cousin unwelcome during family visit

9/19/20

DEAR ABBY » My husband and I and our children moved across the country away from our families three years ago. My 9-yearold daughter is extremely close to my mom and sister. Mom wants to take a road trip and spend a week with us. We are all excited, since we haven’t seen them in a year. However, she wants to bring along my grandma and my younger cousin, who is 12.

My grandma has partial custody of my cousin. The girl had a rough upbringing, and I don’t want her to come. She throws terrible temper tantrums, demands to be the center of attention and, when it doesn’t happen,

Bridge

Some pairs love postmortems, an analysis of a deal once it has been played. Let’s give them a heyday. First, what happened at one table in a Bridge Base Online duplicate; then, what should have happened.

After the given auction, West led the heart ace, cashed the diamond ace and played the diamond five to partner’s king, declarer playing the seven and the queen. East shifted to a low club. West took that trick and cashed the club ace, so the contract went down two. What are your thoughts?

Right — there were numerous errors. First, East should have raised one heart to four hearts. South might have passed, but probably would have bid four spades. Then surely starts acting up. If that doesn’t work, she will try to kiss people or make “jokes” about sex. I don’t trust her around my daughters.

Mom hates controversy and turns a blind eye to the behavior. How can I get across that we want Mom and Grandma to come but to leave my cousin at home?

DEAR PROCEEDING » Say it in plain English as you have to me. You have a right to protect your daughters from what you perceive to be a bad influence.

You mentioned your grandmother shares custody of this girl. Perhaps

West would have gone higher. Also, West’s threeheart rebid was far too cautious. He should have raised to game.

In the duplicate, no East-West pair reached six hearts, which just needed the club finesse to work.

Grandma can leave her with that person for a week. However, once you have drawn the line, be prepared for the possibility that your mother may cancel the trip.

Usually the rule for a slam on a finesse is to bid it when the finesse is working but to stay out when the finesse is losing! Here, though, given South’s bid, the finesse was a favorite. Six tables played in four hearts, and eight in five hearts. No one sacrificed in five spades — was that good judgment?

Yes, it was. Five spades doubled can cost 800 for down four! After the heart ace, diamond ace and diamond to the king, East gives West a diamond ruff. Then West exits with his remaining trump and awaits three club tricks. Even more fun is to start with three rounds of diamonds. West continues with a low heart. East wins with his jack and shifts to the club queen!