FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

EXCELLENT MAGAZINE

In 2019, The Bridge World magazine marked its 90th year. It has a well-deserved reputation for excellence.

In an “Improve Your Play” feature for aspiring players, South rolls into a slam, and West leads the jack of diamonds: queen, king, ace. Declarer next cashes the A-K of trumps. When East shows out, South is at risk of losing a diamond and a trump. How should he play?

Too Late

South must run the hearts to get rid of dummy’s three low diamonds before West can ruff, hence South must find West with four hearts. A 3-3 break won’t help. But then West is likely to have the jack, so at Trick Four South leads a heart to dummy’s nine! He takes the king, ruffs a club, and cashes the A-Q and his last heart, pitching dummy’s diamonds. West ruffs too late to beat the slam.

The winning play might cost a second undertrick — maybe points in the long run. But losing a slam you could have made is a damaging psychological blow. For info and interesting features, see bridgeworld.com.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ J ♥ 4 3 ♦ K 8 7 5 ♣ A 10 9 7 5 2. Your partner opens one spade, you respond 1NT and he bids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: This situation is agonizing. You lack a tolerance for either of partner’s suits, and he may have no club tolerance at all. To pass before things get worse might be a winning action. I would bid three clubs. It’s possible that partner has a strong hand and might bid and make 3NT.

South dealer E-W vulnerable