BRIDGE

The American Contract Bridge League’s 11-day Spring Championships begin March 15 in Memphis, ACBL’S home, in observance of the league’s 75th birthday. Thousands of players will attend. Events will range from one-session games for beginners to national championships. (See acbl.org.)

The tournament will feature entertainment and a series of free lectures for newer players, and I will be there to speak on March 18. I avoid talking about bidding methods and “rules”: I prefer to focus on logical thinking.

At today’s 3NT, East takes the ace of hearts and returns the six to South’s king. South must find the queen of diamonds, but first he cashes four clubs. West follows once, then discards two spades and the queen of hearts. South knows West had four hearts and one club. With a five-card spade suit, he would have led a spade against 3NT. So South can place West with at least four diamonds. The “guess” for the queen of diamonds is easy.

Question: You hold ♠ J 10 2 ♥ AJ764 ♦ 2 ♣ 9 8 7 5. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

Answer: Game is possible but unlikely. Pass and hope for a plus. A bid of 1NT is not attractive, and a rebid of two hearts would risk playing there opposite a singleton in dummy. South dealer N-S vulnerable