Daily Bridge Club
Wrong question? By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency
“Why,” Cy the Cynic asked me, “do women ask questions with no right answer?”
“So you and Wendy are at it again,” I sighed.
Wendy, my club’s feminist, and Cy, a chauvinist, are always at odds. They were today’s North-South. The Cynic played at 6NT.
West led a diamond, and Cy won in his hand and let the queen of hearts ride. East won and led a club. Cy had only 11 tricks — three spades, three hearts, four diamonds and a club — so he played low. West produced the king for down one.
“Wendy asked me how I could go down,” Cy told me. “What could I say? Two finesses lost.” ERROR
Cy erred. He should win the first diamond in his hand and lead the seven of clubs. If West wins, Cy has four clubs, four diamonds, three spades and one heart. If West plays low, dummy wins and Cy switches to hearts, winning two clubs, three hearts, three spades and four diamonds.
If East had the king of clubs, Cy would have time to try for a 3-3 club break with the heart finesse in reserve. DAILY QUESTION two clubs (strong, artificial), you respond two diamonds (negative or waiting) and he bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: Bid four hearts, showing good trump support but denying any side ace, king or singleton. This is a textbook action. You say you are willing to play at game but discourage slam. If your partner goes on, he is on his own. South dealer N-S vulnerable