FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

CARELESS PLAY

“My partner doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘fear,’” a club player told me. “Unfortunately, he doesn’t know the meaning of a lot of other words either, such as ‘careful.’”

Today’s auction was routine, not fearless. North issued a “transfer” response to South’s 1NT, then bid 3NT to offer a choice of games.

West led the seven of diamonds, and declarer played low from dummy. East took the king and, seeing no future in diamonds, shifted to a spade. West took the king and returned the deuce. Dummy’s jack won, but when South next led a heart, East took the ace and led his last spade, and West scored the ten and ace. Down one.

No Fear

“My fearless partner,” grumbled my friend, who’d been North.

South can see nine tricks but must be afraid of a spade switch that might set up five tricks for the defense. South should grab the ace of diamonds and force out the ace of hearts. He wins four hearts, four clubs and a diamond, and the defense can take no more than four tricks.

Daily Question

You hold: J 5 Q J 9 8 3 A J3 ♣Q ♠ ♥ ♦ 10 6. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: Your lack of aces and kings is a bit troubling. Still, with 11 high-card points, you can continue with a game-invitational bid. Since you have balanced pattern and diamond strength, jump to 2NT. If your jack of diamonds were the king, you would bid 3NT yourself. North dealer N-S vulnerable