Evading trouble

CY the Cynic says that he doesn’t understand why people look for trouble – when it’s often right behind them and gaining ground.

In today’s deal, West’s conventional “Michaels” cue bid of two spades promised length in hearts and a minor suit. Against four spades, West led the king of diamonds, and South took the ace and saw no problem: He led a trump next.

Alas, trouble overtook declarer when West threw a diamond. East captured dummy’s jack with the queen and, with a choice of winning defenses, led another diamond. South ruffed, took the ace of hearts, ruffed a heart, ruffed a diamond and ruffed another heart.

OVERRUFF

East overruffed with the ten and cashed the ace, leaving dummy with only one trump, so South had a heart to lose. Down one.

South begged for trouble when he led a trump. Since he has no side-suit losers, he can afford three in trumps. At Trick Two, South should start a crossruff. No matter how East defends, South loses only three trump tricks.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: 9 8 7 6 3 A Q 5 4 2 A A 3. South in today’s deal opened one spade with this hand. Do you agree with that action?

ANSWER

South’s call was correct even though his spades were ragged. With two five-card suits, to bid the higher-ranking first is generally correct without regard to quality. You could make an exception in an extreme case and open one heart with 6 5 4 3 2, A K Q J 10, A, 3 2, treating the spades as a four-card suit and the hearts as a six-bagger.

South dealer Both sides vulnerable Opening lead – ♦K