FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

LONG, LONELY JOURNEY

In a penny game, Cy the Cynic had cut Grapefruit, my club’s odious member. He owns and operates an acid tongue. Against four spades, Grapefruit led the king of hearts. South took the ace and lost a trump finesse. He ruffed the next heart, led a club to dummy and returned a diamond: three from Cy, queen, ace. South ruffed the third heart, drew trumps and led the jack of diamonds. Cy won but had to lead a minor suit, and South made his game. “Partner,” Grapefruit growled, “did it occur to you to put up your king on the first diamond?”

“The thought crossed my mind,” Cy said feebly.

“If a thought ever crossed your mind,” Grapefruit roared, “it would be a long, lonely journey.”

Last Trump

Cy loses nothing by playing his king.

Then he can force South to ruff a heart while Grapefruit retains the ace of diamonds. South can’t maintain trump control and goes down at least one. “Criticism isn’t fatal,” I told Cy.

“If it were,” he shrugged, “the skunk would be extinct.”

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ 7 4 3 ♥ A 762 ♦ 76 ♣ A K 8 5. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids two clubs, and you raise to three clubs. Partner then bids three hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner has a good hand and is cooperating with your try for game. If he held a minimum hand such as 2, K J 4, A Q 5 4 3, Q J 3 2, he would have raised your one heart directly to two. Bid five clubs. Partner’s hand may be 2, K J 4, A K Q 5 4, Q J 3 2. South dealer

N-S vulnerable