BRIDGE

Teams, the Spring NABC’s premier event, went to a team led by Marty Fleisher (Martel, GrecoHampson, Grue-Moss). In the final they beat Nick NICKELL (Katz, Levin-Weinstein, MeckstrothRodwell), 133 to 95.

FLEISHER pitched a remarkable 56-0 shutout in the first quarter. In today’s deal, the jump to four hearts by FLEISHER’s South with such a huge hand was rather unusual.

When West led the king of clubs, South could have succeeded by winning, drawing trumps and finessing with the jack of spades. Instead, he let the king win.

CLUB LOSER

West then led a diamond. East won and could have beaten the game by leading the queen of clubs, letting West ruff South’s ace. But East tried to cash a second diamond, and South ruffed and survived when the spade finesse won.

In the replay, NICKELL’s NorthSouth had to sort things out after East opened 1NT (!), South doubled and West showed his spades. North landed at 3NT, and East happily ran his diamonds. Down one.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: 10 6 87 AK Q J

4 Q J 9 8. Your partner opens one heart, you bid two diamonds, he rebids two hearts and you try three clubs. Partner then rebids three hearts. What do you say? ANSWER: After you bid a new suit at the three level, the auction is game-forcing in theory. As a practical matter, your chances are uncertain: If partner liked his hand, he could have jumped to four hearts at his third turn. Bid four hearts if you wish. I would accept a pass.

East dealer

N-S vulnerable