FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

OVERBERRIED

“The most depressing part,” Cy the Cynic told me in the club lounge, “is that it doesn’t matter what the contract is: a partscore, game or slam. He’ll try for an overtrick.” Cy was talking about Joe Overberry, who thinks it’s nobler to go down in pursuit of overtricks than to make his bid. That tendency costs him — and his unfortunate partners — thousands of points.

Cy was today’s North in a penny game, Joe was South, and they got to six clubs, reasonably enough. West led the six of diamonds.

Low Diamonds

“Joe saw a chance for a treasured overtrick,” the Cynic said glumly. “He took the ace of diamonds and led to his king, planning to ruff both his low diamonds in dummy. West ruffed and led a trump, and Joe could ruff only one diamond and went down. The man would try for an overtrick at a grand slam.”

Joe pitched 1,470 points. He should play safe for 12 tricks, especially after avoiding a trump opening lead. At the second trick, Joe must play a low diamond from both hands.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ KJ 7532 ♥ 542 ♦ A3 ♣ J 2. You are the dealer, neither side vulnerable. What do you say?

Answer: The modern tendency seems to be to preempt first and look at your hand later, but to open a weak two-bid with this hand would not occur to me. The spade suit is ragged and may contain several losers, and there is tolerance for a heart contract. Pass. To open two spades would be much worse with K J 7 5 3 2, 5 4 2, A 7 6 5, None.

South dealer N-S vulnerable