Daily Bridge Club

Late again

Unlucky Louie is habitually late for his penny game — and was late again today. When he showed up, Cy the Cynic was irked.

“It’s the third time this week we’ve waited,” Cy fumed. “Do you know what this means?”

“It’s Wednesday?” Louie asked innocently.

When Louie played at four hearts, Cy led the queen of diamonds, and Louie hurriedly took dummy’s ace and led a trump to his queen for a finesse. Cy won and led another diamond. TWO CLUBS

Louie won and took the ace of trumps. He then got to dummy by leading his five of trumps to the six and tried a spade to his queen. Cy won, cashed a diamond and got out with a spade. Louie was stuck in his hand and lost two clubs. Down two.

Louie should have been late — to attack the trumps. He must win the first diamond in his hand and lead the A-Q of spades. He wins the next diamond and throws his diamond loser on the jack of spades. Louie can then finesse in trumps or (better) lead a club to his king, but he should lose only three tricks. DAILY QUESTION You hold: K 10 8 6 K 8 Q J 7 4 Q 6 5. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two clubs and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner suggests minimum opening values with five cards in hearts and clubs. He is interested in neither game nor notrump. Pass. At matchpoint duplicate, you could reasonably try three hearts to play at a higherscoring partscore, but to bid 3NT would be undisciplined. South dealer N-S vulnerable