Bridge Play

Today’s deal reminds me of the turtle who got mugged by two snails. When the police arrived and asked the turtle if

he could describe the perpetrators, he said, “I don’t know. It all happened so fast.”

When West led the king of diamonds against South’s four spades, East overtook with the ace and led his singleton heart. Declarer won and started the trumps, but East grabbed his ace, led a diamond to West and ruffed the heart return for down one — all in less time than it takes to tell.

LONGER

The play should have taken a little longer. South should perceive what East has in mind, so South should win East’s heart shift in dummy and lead the king of clubs. When East’s ace covers, South discards his last diamond — a “scissors coup.”

Then when East gets in with his ace of trumps, he can no longer give his partner the lead, and South loses only a trump, a diamond and a club.

A heart opening lead would always beat four spades. That would be asking a lot of West.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A7 ♥ 9 ♦ AJ87

♣ A 6 5 4 3 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond two clubs and he bids two diamonds.

What do you say?

ANSWER: Your hand has become potent. If partner has a minimum but shapely hand such as K 5, A J 7 6 5, K Q 10 6 5, 8, he will be a favorite at six or seven diamonds. You have options. One is to set the trump suit with a jump to four diamonds. Another is to bid two spades (the “fourth suit”) and support diamonds next.

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