FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

PROCRASTINATION PAYS

Unlucky Louie is a busy man: He has a big family, business interests and hobbies aside from bridge. Yet he shows up at my club on most days.

“I don’t see how you cram it all into one life,” I said.

“The only thing I can seem to find time for,” Louie admitted, “is procrastination.” Louie would do well to procrastinate as declarer. He plays first and thinks later. Against today’s four hearts, West led the K-A and a low diamond, and Louie ruffed East’s ten and promptly took the A-K of trumps. When West discarded, Louie was doomed: He lost a trump to East’s queen plus a spade. How would you handle the contract?

Club Ruff

South makes four hearts if he procrastinates in trumps. After he ruffs the third diamond, he can take the A-K of clubs and K-A of spades, ruff his last club and ruff dummy’s last diamond. At the 10th trick, South exits with a spade. Both dummy and declarer are left with three trumps, and with a defender to lead, declarer is sure to win the rest.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ K 10 6 ♥ K J76 ♦ 9542 ♣A K. You open one diamond, your partner responds one spade, you bid 1NT and he tries two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: In “Standard” methods, partner’s two hearts is not forcing or encouraging, but since you have so many working cards, game is possible. He may have A J 7 5 4, A 10 5 4, 3, 8 7 6. Bid three hearts. Most experienced partnerships have bidding methods that better handle situations such as this.

North dealer Both sides vulnerable