FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

DEFENSIVE ‘UPPERCUT’ The ageless Eddie Kantar continues to entertain and enlighten us. Eddie produces an instructional deal for every issue of the Daily Bulletin at the ACBL North American Championships.

In today’s Kantar deal, South’s bidding shows long hearts — typically a six-card suit or perhaps a strong five-carder — but fewer than 10 points. North should be happy to pass at a playable spot.

Since West has a natural trump trick, leading his singleton diamond is more likely to help declarer than the defense. With the lead of the three of clubs, East takes the K-A, and West follows with the deuce, indicating that he started with five clubs.

Threat

Since dummy’s diamonds are a threat to provide discards, East should cash the ace of spades next. West signals encouragement, wins the second spade and leads a third spade.

Then East can “uppercut” with his ten of trumps, and when declarer must overruff with the king, West’s Q-J-8 are worth two trump tricks to beat the contract. Daily Question You hold: Q 10 6 5 2 A7 A K J 10 8 5.

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he rebids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Slam is possible; partner has at least six hearts and might hold 3, K Q 10 9

6 3 2, Q 7 6, A 6. Since partners rarely hold exactly the right cards, many players would raise to four hearts. Still, to temporize with a bid of three diamonds and support the hearts next — a stronger sequence — would be reasonable. North dealer E-W vulnerable