QUICK CROSSWORD

Bill Crawford, a comedian and radio personality from Pittsburgh, said, “When the question is either/ or, the answer is almost always both/ and.”

I felt like that when faced with a bidding decision in this deal. Look at the North hand. After three passes, partner opens one heart. What would you respond?

I had three choices, each promising a maximum initial pass: two clubs, Reverse Drury, affirming three- plus hearts; or three diamonds, a fitjump by a passed hand showing four or more hearts and five- plus respectable diamonds; or three spades, a splinter bid indicating a singleton or void in that suit.

At Bridge Base Online, the splinter bid won by a landslide, and more than half of the North- South pairs reached six hearts. ( One was doubled by a West who thought his aceking would be two tricks. South redoubled and scored plus 1,620.) However, I preferred three diamonds. I am a big believer in trying to uncover a double fit, because it will play so well.

Then, my wife might have launched Roman Key Card Blackwood, but we have not discussed sixace in this situation, so she settled for four diamonds.

Now I might have jumped to five spades, trying to indicate my void, but I chose four spades, a control- bid. My partner then bid what she thought she could make: six hearts.

West led the club king and, for want of anything better to do, tried to cash the club ace. Declarer ruffed, drew trumps and claimed. She had one spade, five hearts, five diamonds and the club ruff in her hand. Copyright United Feature Syndicate

( Asia Features)