Bridge Play

On “Simple Saturday,” I focus on basic technique and logical thinking.

In a beginning class, the teacher may dogmatically tout drawing trumps, lest the defenders ruff declarer’s sidesuit winners. If you think it’s always right to draw trumps, today’s deal should make you re-think.

At four spades, South took the ace of hearts and thought he could safely lead a trump. When East unkindly showed out, West took the jack, king and ace. Dummy then had only one trump left, and though South could ruff a diamond in dummy, he lost a heart.

TRUMP LOSERS

Every dogma has its day, but this was no day to draw trumps. South has three possible trump losers but no other fast losers; he can leave the trumps alone. He takes the ace of diamonds and ace of clubs, ruffs a club, discards dummy’s low heart on the king of diamonds and ruffs a diamond.

South then ruffs another club. West overruffs with the jack and takes the A-K, but dummy still has a trump for South to ruff his third heart.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 8754 ♥ AK8 ♦ A ♣ A J 9 7 3. Your partner deals and opens one heart. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: You can make a grand slam if partner has a suitable minimum such as A 2, Q J 9 6 4, 8 7 6, K Q 2, and he may have a better hand than that. Tell him slam is likely: Jump-shift to three clubs and support the hearts next. If he has a hand like the one above, with club honors and the ace of spades, he will be suitably encouraged.