Bridge Play

The Trojan War having dragged on for 10 long years, the weary warriors determined to settle the issue at the bridge table.

In today’s deal, the wily Odysseus became declarer at four spades, and Paris, West for Troy, led a heart. Hector, East, won and shifted to the ten of diamonds: queen, ace. Odysseus won the diamond return with the king and cashed the A-K of trumps.

When Paris discarded a heart, declarer laid down his jack of diamonds — and then recoiled as if he had pulled out the wrong card.

DOWN ONE

East dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH 653

8 87652 Q854

WEST

9 1076543 A93

1093

EAST

874 AKQ92 104

KJ6

SOUTH AKQJ102 J

KQJ

A72

“I fear the Greeks even when they bear gifts,” Hector muttered, and he pitched a heart. At the end, Odysseus had to lose two clubs for down one. But if East ruffs the third diamond, declarer reaches dummy with the six of trumps to discard on the good diamonds.

“We were lucky to beat it after you forgot to ruff the third diamond,” Paris (no analyst, he) complained. “I wish you wouldn’t horse around that way.”

“Did you say wooden horse?” Odysseus asked politely.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 874 ♥ AKQ92 ♦ 104 ♣ K J 6. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: Since you have 13 high-card points, balanced pattern and the unbid suit stopped, you might bid 3NT. Still, partner can have many hands where a heart contract is superior, and to look around will cost nothing. Bid two clubs, a forcing “fourth-suit” call. If partner next bids two hearts, you will bid four hearts.