Daily Bridge Club

A kick in the caboose

“Look at this,” a club player said to me disgustedly. “I always thought my concentration level was decent, but when I was declarer at this slam, my train of thought got derailed.”

At his vulnerable six hearts, my friend took the king of diamonds, led a trump to dummy’s ace and returned the jack of clubs: king, ace, deuce.

“I cashed the queen of clubs,” he went on, “and ruffed a club with the three of trumps. East overruffed and led his last trump, and I was dead. My last low club was a loser. I deserved a kick in the caboose.”

GOOD CONTRACT

“You did well to reach slam,” I said, trying to apply some balm. “It was a good contract, but most pairs would have stopped at game.”

Everyone suffers an occasional aberration. South ran off the track when he ruffed the third club with a low trump. He must instead ruff with the queen. South then returns to his hand with the ace of spades and ruffs his last club with the three. East can overruff, but that is the defenders’ only trick.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ K 9862 ♥ J 10 6 ♦ 86 5 ♣K 8. The dealer, at your left, opens two diamonds (weak). Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has obliged you to act at the two level at least; his hand is worth 16 or more points. Since you have three useful honors and a five-card suit, game is likely. Jump to three spades to invite. You would bid two spades with the same pattern but no high cards at all. South dealer N-S vulnerable