Daily Bridge Club

Mad bridge party

“My cousin the Queen of Hearts is so obsessive-compulsive,” the Queen of Diamonds told Alice as the players at the Mad Hatter’s took a tea break. “She can’t stand the idea of her card being captured. But I know that losing a trick can be better than winning one.”

“Of course, your majesty,” Alice sighed.

“Deal the cards,” the Queen sniffed.

When Alice was declarer at 3NT, West, the Dormouse, led a low spade: six, king, five. The March Hare, East, returned the nine: ten, jack, eight. The Dormouse then led a third spade — and the Hare swiftly pitched his queen of diamonds. Alice won but had to fail. She couldn’t set up the diamonds without letting West get in to run the spades.

SECOND SPADE

“Had I known, I’d have won the second spade,” said Alice.

Alice makes 3NT if East keeps his queen of diamonds. Alice gets to dummy twice to lead diamonds toward her hand. When East plays the queen, Alice plays low and is safe.

“What did I tell you?” the Queen of Diamonds chortled.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: A 10 5 Q 4 3 A K 10 9 5 6 4. Your partner opens one heart, you bid two diamonds and he rebids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: To bid four hearts might work, but since you have good controls and a possible source of winners, slam is possible. Partner might hold 3, A K J 7 5 2, Q 2, A 8 5 3 or K 3, A K 10 9 7 2, 4 3, A 7 2. In a game-forcing two-overone style, raise to three hearts, forcing. Otherwise, you might try two spades and support hearts next. North dealer

N-S vulnerable