Daily Bridge Club

FRANK STEWART TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

My friend the English professor says that “Whatever you do, don’t panic” is the most panic-inducing phrase in the English language. A common fault on defense is to panic and grab winners when it’s best to sit back and let declarer struggle.

At today’s four hearts, South covered the opening spade lead with dummy’s king. East took the ace and returned a spade, which was what declarer was hoping for. He ruffed and (questionably) took the K-A of trumps. MISSING TRUMP When East-west followed, South ruffed a spade, led a club to dummy and ruffed the last spade. He got back to dummy with a high club to draw the missing trump with the ten, and when the jack of clubs fell, he had 10 tricks: three high trumps, three spade ruffs and four clubs.

East’s defense was panicky. If declarer had a second spade loser, he had no way to avoid it. By trying to cash another spade, East helped declarer manage a dummy reversal. If East exits passively with a trump or a club at Trick Two, South must fail. Questions and comments: Email Stewart at frs1016@centurylink.net