FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

FORCIBLE ENTRY Friday, December 28. It was cool in Los Angeles. We were working the daywatch out of Burglary. The boss is Capt. Stewart. My partner’s Bill Gannon. He’s a good player. My name’s Friday.

We got a call about a case of forcible entry at a club in Glendale. We checked it out. The suspect was still playing when we arrived. One of his opponents spoke with us.

“It was terrible, officer.”

“Just the facts, ma’am.”

“I was declarer at three spades, and after West led the ace of clubs, I expected to make it. I had only four obvious losers. After I drew trumps, I could pitch diamonds on dummy’s high clubs.” Second Trick

“But at Trick Two, West led a low diamond: jack, queen, king. When I led a trump next, West won and led a second low diamond, and East won with the ten and returned a club. West ruffed, and I went down. He’s a sharp operator. Cuff him!”

We arrested West on a charge of forcing an entry to his partner’s hand. At trial, the judge said he wished he defended as well. Daily Question You hold: A32 A 10 9 8 7 A542 A.

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts, he rebids two spades and you try three diamonds. Partner rebids three spades. What do you say?

Answer: To blast into six spades or risk seven spades would be reasonable enough. If partner has K Q 10 8 7 6 5, 3, K Q, Q 4 2, he will have 13 tricks at spades. A scientific approach would be to bid four clubs, which partner should treat as a cue bid, suggesting spade support. South dealer N-S vulnerable