TEAM OF THE DECADE
Mount Saint Joseph 2016-17 (36-4, 13-1), MIAA/BCL Champions
Imagine starting a grueling basketball season in November against some of the top talent in the nation and not losing until January. The Gaels accomplished it. Not only did the Pat Clatchey-led program singe the nets on a nearly nightly basis, but they were a cohesive unit. Led by the point guard play of now-George Washington point guard James Bishop, current Maryland defensive stalwart Darryl Morsell and the 10th overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft, Phoenix Suns forward Jalen Smith, the Gaels won the MIAA title and were crowned as the BCL champions within a span of a week.
“Simple Saturday” columns focus on improving basic technique and developing logical thinking.
Cy the Cynic says that anything free will have a secret, a defect, damage or an expiration date. When you are offered a “free finesse,” be wary.
In today’s deal, West led a spade against 3NT, and South happily played the ten from dummy, accepting the free finesse. He expected the ten to win, but when East’s queen covered, South had a damage-control issue: If he took the ace, he would lack an entry to his clubs.
RECOVER
South tried to recover by letting East’s queen win. He won the next spade in dummy and led a club to his jack, but when West won, he led the ace and a second heart, and the contract expired; the defenders had five tricks.
South’s play was defective. Here’s the secret to making 3NT: South must put up dummy’s king on the first spade, then finesse in clubs. He is sure of five clubs, two spades and two diamonds, and East-West can take no more than four tricks.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: ♠ 97642 ♥ A83 ♦ J9 ♣Q 6 3. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade and he bids two clubs. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your partner has longer diamonds than clubs. Your correct call is two diamonds. If he has five diamonds and four clubs, he will usually do better at the 5-2 fit. Moreover, you give him another chance if he has a strong hand. Your hand is too weak to bid 2NT. A rebid of two spades would show a much better suit.
Fill in the grid using the clues provided in the direction of the arrows. When complete, unscramble the letters in the circles to reveal a mystery word.