FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

Unlucky Louie is my club’s foremost advocate of Murphy’s Law. Louie says that whatever can go wrong, will. And if there is a worst possible time for something to go wrong, that’s when it will happen.

As today’s South, Louie found himself at 6NT. (Six spades would have been a better spot.) West led the king of diamonds, and Louie took the ace and seemed to be in good shape. But when he cashed the king of spades and led a second spade, West showed out.

“What a time for spades to break 4-1,” Louie groaned.

Finesse

He took the ace and queen, cashed three clubs and won a heart finesse with dummy’s jack. Hearts broke 3-3, but Louie was still a trick short.

Louie made his own bad luck, as usual. He can start the spades with the ace and king. When West discards, Louie leads the jack of diamonds to West’s queen. Louie wins the diamond return with the ten and finesses in hearts. With the lucky heart position, he has four hearts, three spades, two diamonds and three clubs.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ K 5 ♥ 5 4 2 ♦ A J 10 5 ♣ A Q 7 2. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two clubs, he bids two hearts and you try 3NT. Partner then rebids four spades. What do you say?

Answer: Partner suggests six spades, four hearts and extra strength. With A Q 10 7 4 2, K Q 7 3, 4 3, 2, many experts would have rebid two spades to suggest minimum values. Bid five spades, inviting slam. If partner has A Q 10 7 4 2, A K 7 6, 2, K 5, he will have a play for 13 tricks.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable