FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

GREENBERG STILL HAS IT Gail Greenberg, world-champion player, respected teacher and matriarch of a notable bridge-playing family, celebrated her 80th birthday at the ACBL Fall NABC in Honolulu. Greenberg was South in today’s deal (reported by Barry Rigal) from the Life Master Pairs and showed that she can handle the dummy as well as ever. Against 3NT, West found a good lead of the deuce of clubs. Then declarer had no time to set up her long diamonds, even with a 3-3 break: She would lose two diamonds, two clubs and the ace of spades.

Do you see a winning play?

Low Spade

Greenberg won the first club in dummy and led a spade to her jack. West took the ace and led another club. Greenberg won, cashed the king of spades, led a heart to dummy and returned a low spade. When East’s queen appeared, dummy’s ten was a winner, and declarer had two spades, four hearts, a diamond and two clubs. Well done!

To duck the first spade doesn’t help West. South can continue with the king of spades effectively. Daily Question You hold: 10 5 4 2 A Q 3 10 4 A 7 6 5.

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Your partner opens one diamond, you bid one spade and he raises to two spades. What do you say?

Answer: This is a borderline call. Game is possible if partner has an ideal minimum hand. To resolve a close decision, look at your trump holding. Since your spades are weak, pass. You may be able to avoid losers in side suits but not in trumps. Plus, partner may have raised with threecard support. South dealer E-W vulnerable