DAILY BRIDGE CLUB
Thinking outside the box is good, unless maybe youre a cat. But most of us labor under the burden of rules and tendencies to which we were exposed when we learned the game.
Todays East felt compelled to act at his first turn, so he overcalled on a fourcard suit. Souths secondround jump was invitational to game. North couldnt go on; his queen of diamonds looked (and was) worthless.
Against three hearts, West led a diamond, and East took the jack and king, then shifted to the ace and a low trump to stop diamond ruffs in dummy. That defense wasnt good enough: South drew trumps and ran the clubs, making four.
To beat the contract, East must think outside the box. At Trick Two, he must lead the four of trumps. Declarer is helpless. If he concedes a diamond, East will cash the ace of trumps and two more diamonds.
If instead declarer tries to discard a diamond loser on dummys clubs, West can ruff the third club, and the defense still wins five tricks. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ K 9 8 3 2 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ 8 6 3 ♣ 9 6 .The dealer, at your left, opens one heart, your partner overcalls two diamonds and the next player raises to two hearts. After two passes, your partner doubles. What do you say?
ANSWER: Since you have not yet bid or doubled, partner s double is for takeout. He has a sound hand and is reluctant to let the opponents buy the deal cheaply. Bid two spades. Partner may hold a hand such as A 7 6,9 2, A K J 9 4 , K 5 2 .