Character count

Bridge is an intellectual challenge. It is also a character- builder. You can learn from how you respond to adversity. You’re today’s South, and you might have bid differently. Over North’s jump- shift to three diamonds, you might have stalled with a threeheart preference, giving him more room to describe his hand. When he jumped to five spades, you might have bid again. North’s five spades was wrong. Since he had already shown great strength and had no idea how good your spades were, he should have bid four spades. The sight of dummy is appalling. Your contract is at risk, and a red- suit slam would have been a favorite. At six diamonds, North could win a club opening lead, take the A- K of hearts and ruff a heart high. Good breaks would produce 13 tricks. It takes character to apply yourself to the play when your contract is silly. How do you proceed? The actual South took the ace of clubs, ruffed a club and cashed the A- Q of trumps. He led a diamond to his ten and took the king of trumps. When East discarded, declarer tried to run the diamonds, but West ruffed the third diamond and cashed two clubs. South must let West win the first club. If West leads another club, South ruffs in dummy, takes the A- Q of trumps, leads a diamond to his hand and cashes the king of trumps. When East shows out, declarer runs the diamonds. When West ruffs and leads another club, South can win and pitch his last club on dummy’s fourth diamond.