FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

QUICK DECISIONS

One definition of an expert is someone who makes a lot of quick decisions — some of which may be right. When I play, I like to see a card hit the table every few minutes. Still, I know that at bridge, no prizes are awarded for making decisions faster than anybody else.

In today’s deal, West led his singleton queen of diamonds against four spades, and South promptly took his ace and just as promptly drew trumps. He next led a diamond. East won with the jack and led a heart, and South lost a finesse with his queen. West cashed his ace of clubs, and East’s king of diamonds won the setting trick.

Good Time

If you’re going to make a poor decision by playing too fast, the first trick is a good time. South must let West’s queen of diamonds win.

If West then leads the ace and a second club, South wins, draws trumps and leads the ace and a third diamond. When East wins and leads a heart, South grabs his ace and takes two more diamonds to pitch his queen of hearts.

Daily Question You hold:

♠ A Q 7 5 4 ♥ AQ ♦ A 8 4 2 ♣ 5 2. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he rebids two hearts. What do you say?

A grand slam is possible; partner might hold K 2, K J 10 8 5 3, 7 6, A Q 6. If he has K 2, K J 10 8 5 3, K Q 6, J 6, a club lead will beat six hearts. You might jump to six hearts and let the opening leader try to find a winning lead if one exists. An option is to bid three diamonds, then support the hearts later to suggest slam.

Answer: North dealer Both sides vulnerable