BRIDGE

If an opponent errs, cash in quickly

Yogi Berra said, “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.” At the bridge table, if your opponents never make a mistake, you will have trouble making even a penny, let alone a nickel or dime. But if one of them errs, you must cash in. This deal occurred in a social game. After East opened one spade, South made a thin two-heart overcall, West passed, North cue-bid two spades to show heart support and at least game-invitational strength, and South signed off in three hearts. What happened after West led the spade six? South had potential losers in three suits. Given the known 5-1 spade split, there was a temptation to finesse in trumps through West. However, East opened the bidding, and if the finesse lost, East would be in to give his partner a spade ruff. This made taking the two top trumps appealing — but a 4-1 break would have been a bad blow. So, South decided to play a heart to the king and return a heart to his jack. West took the trick and shifted to the club seven, top of nothing. However, East thought it was high from a doubleton. He won with his king, cashed the club ace and tried to give partner a ruff. South won with his jack, played a heart to the 10, discarded a spade on the club queen and claimed, conceding one spade, one heart and two clubs. East should have paid closer attention to the spade spots. West could not have led low from a tripleton. East should have cashed the spade king and given his partner a ruff to defeat the contract.