FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

PLENTY OF TRUMPS

I can understand why declarers get edgy when they must cope with an inferior trump fit; we’ve all reached shaky contracts on a 4-3 fit. It’s also easy to see why declarers get careless when they have a ton of trumps. Today’s West led the jack of spades against five diamonds, and South played low from dummy. If his queen won, he could pitch his heart loser on the ace later. East took the king and returned a heart. Declarer won, gazed at his 10-card trump fit and led the jack to finesse.

Trouble

East won and returned his last trump, and South was in trouble. He threw a heart on the ace of spades and crossruffed three spades and three clubs, but at the end, he had a club loser. Down one.

South’s play at Trick One was fine, but his trump finesse wasn’t. He must lead a trump to the ace. When East-West play low (the most likely result), South starts a crossruff and thus disposes of all losers. East gets his king of trumps at some point, but South’s game is safe.

Daily Question

You hold :♠ A 7532♥753♦ A Q 963♣ None. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he rebids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: You have only 10 points in high cards, but if partner has a suitable minimum with good trumps and the king of diamonds — give him 4, AK 10862, K 54, J 65— you might make a grand slam. Bid three diamonds, planning to support hearts next. You will show slam interest with club shortness. Let your partner judge.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable