BRIDGE

PLAYING IN HASTE

Today’s declarer played like a man who thinks the elevator will shift into “hurry” mode if you mash the button four times. Against four hearts, West led the jack of diamonds, and South took the ace and hurriedly led a trump to dummy’s king in order to discard his spade loser on the king of diamonds. South next led a club from dummy and played the nine when East followed low. West won with the ten and led the jack of trumps. South took his ace, ruffed a club and threw a club on the queen of diamonds, but he had to lose two more clubs to West plus a trump. Down one.

TOO FAST

South would have done better to take the stairs. As you might imagine, he played too fast. South must lead a club at Trick Two. If West wins, cashes his ace of spades and leads the eight of trumps, South takes the king, comes to his ace of diamonds, ruffs a club, ruffs a spade and ruffs a club. South can then discard his last two clubs on the K-Q of diamonds, losing only three tricks in all.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 3 ♥ A 9 7 6 4 3 ♦A

♣ K 9 5 3 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he rebids two diamonds. What do you say? ANSWER: This is an uneasy situation. A misfit is quite likely, and disaster lurks. Still, game remains possible. I certainly would not force to game with a bid of three clubs. Bid three hearts, invitational. If partner bids 3NT next, you can describe your hand well by continuing with four clubs South dealer N-S vulnerable