PORTALS OF DISCOVERY FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

In a lifetime of bridge, I have never played a mistake-free session. (Neither has anyone else.) But I have learned that mistakes are portals of discovery. In today’s deal, West led a heart against 3NT, and declarer let East’s queen win and played low again on the heart return. When West led a third heart, East threw a spade, and South won.

South next led a spade to dummy and returned a club: five, queen, eight. He went back to dummy with a spade and led another club, and when East played low, South took the ace and led a third club, losing to the king. He had four club tricks and nine in all.

Third Heart

If East puts up the king on the first or second club lead, South succeeds by playing low. Still, both East and South erred. On the third heart, East must discard his king of clubs. South can’t set up the clubs without letting West get in to run the hearts.

South must win the second heart. Then he can manage the clubs to set up the suit without losing a trick to West.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ 852 ♥ KJ962 ♦ K4 ♣ J 10 8. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids two clubs and you return to two diamonds. Partner then bids two hearts. What do you say? Answer: Partner bid a third time even though your two diamonds pleaded weakness. He has a good hand and game interest. Since all of your honors are working — you have no “waste” in spades opposite his shortness — bid four hearts. He may hold 7, A Q 3, A J 7 6 5, K Q 6 4.

South dealer N-S vulnerable