FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

PASSIVE DEFENSE WINS

In today’s deal (reported by Barry Rigal) from the Life Master Pairs in Las Vegas, South’s bold overcall kept East-West from finding their spade fit.

North’s raise to three clubs looks odd to me and could have turned a plus into a minus, but West led the queen and a second spade. Declarer, Glenn Milgrim, ruffed, passed the queen of trumps, led a trump to the ace and ruffed a spade. He took the K-A of hearts, ruffed dummy’s last spade and led the king of diamonds. West could win and cash his high trump, but then he had to lead a diamond from his jack. Making three.

End Play

It was suggested that East would prevail by overtaking the queen of spades to shift to a diamond, saving West from the end play. In fact, South fails if East leads anything but a spade at Trick Two. South will lack the entries to ruff all of dummy’s spades, and West will retain an exit card at the end.

The winning defense is a subtle example of not helping declarer, in any way, when dummy is flat and weak.

Daily Question

You hold: 9 75 3 A 8 72 10 7 2 ♣A ♠ ♥ ♦ 7. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids two clubs and you try two diamonds. Partner then bids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: This case is closer than it may look. Your two diamonds suggested at most nine points, but partner bid again anyway. He has a strong hand short in spades, and you have two aces. To jump to four diamonds would be reasonable. Partner may hold 4, K Q 6, A K 9 8 4, K J 5

4.

West dealer N-S vulnerable