Curious coincidences continue to occur

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE® GARFIELD® BIG NATE® ARLO & JANIS® ZITS®

The day after we finished last week’s columns and sent them to the newspapers, I was in London. I saw that the Victoria and Albert Museum had an exhibition dedicated to Pink Floyd. It was excellent, and one song was played from each album, including my “Ummagumma” favorite, “Grantchester Meadows.” Curious coincidences continue to occur. In that last article, I mentioned the Losing Trick Count. In today’s deal, North-south used it to reach a slightly lucky game. What do you think of the auction? How should the play proceed?

At first glance, the North hand looks like a maximum two-spade single raise. But then you note that it has only eight losers (two spades, one heart, two diamonds and three clubs), which makes it worth a three-spade game-invitational limit raise. South started with a sevenloser hand (two spades, one heart, one diamond and three clubs), but the knowledge of at least a 10-card fit permits him to deduct one loser -- hence his nudge to game.

West leads the club king. East overtakes with his ace and returns the suit. West cashes a third winner in the suit, on which East discards an encouraging diamond nine. So, West shifts to that suit.

South needs the spade finesse to win and must avoid a diamond loser. He takes three rounds of hearts to discard his diamond seven. Then declarer runs the spade queen to get home.

Finally, note that if East has the kingeight of spades, he should discourage in diamonds. Then if West leads his last club, East can ruff with the spade eight to uppercut declarer’s ace.