Grammar schooling

My friend the English professor says that everybody should observe the principles of good grammar: After all, rules is rules. The prof is less sanguine about certain bridge “rules.”

Today’s West led the ten of hearts against four spades. Declarer played low from dummy (perhaps questionably), and East took the king, pondered and returned a heart to dummy. South then drew trumps and led a club to dummy’s jack, and East took the queen and led a third heart. South won, forced out the ace of clubs and had 10 tricks.

“Shift to a diamond at Trick Two,” West growled.

“Leading up to strength is against a rule,” East shrugged.

FOUR TRICKS

East needs four defensive tricks, and one must be a diamond. Moreover, East can see that South will have 10 winners, given time.

If East leads a low diamond at the second trick, he forces out dummy’s queen. When he takes the queen of clubs, he leads another diamond to dislodge the ace and cashes a diamond when in with the ace of clubs.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: A K J 10 9 J 7 5 10 7 5 6 2. Your partner opens one club, you bid one spade and he jumps to 2NT. South in today’s deal rebid three spades with this hand. Do you agree?

ANSWER: South’s call could have worked, but a case existed for a raise to 3NT. South’s pattern was balanced, and his hand was rather barren so that the cheaper nine-trick game was attractive. One deal proves nothing, but 3NT by North might have produced an overtrick.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable