Daily Bridge Club

Millard’s fourth-best

Millard Pringle played at my club yesterday. He is a quiet little man who tends to get lost in the maze of defensive “rules.”

“Look what he did to me in the penny game,” Cy the Cynic fumed. “I was South, Millard was West. Against my 3NT he led the TWO of hearts.”

“Was that his idea of a fourth-best lead?” I asked.

“Who knows?” Cy growled. “Maybe he had a heart mixed in with his diamonds. When I won, I thought it was safe to force out the ace of clubs for nine tricks. But Millard took the ace and ran the hearts for down one.” FIVE-CARD SUIT

“If he leads the six of hearts,” I remarked, “you’ll play him for a fivecard suit. You’ll finesse in spades and win four spades, a heart and four diamonds.”

“The man’s a fruitcake,” Cy grumbled.

In fact, Millard’s lead was astute. Since Millard has 14 points, he knows East has none and will play no part in the defense. So Millard has no reason to lead an honest fourth-best heart. A deceptive lead may induce declarer to misjudge. DAILY QUESTION

♦ 85 ♣ A 8 3. You open one heart, your partner bids one spade, you raise to two spades and he tries three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s three clubs is, as far as you know, a try for game. You have maximum, useful values but no ideal call. You can’t jump to four spades or raise to four clubs with three-card support. Bid three hearts. You hope to place the contract after you hear partner bid once more. North dealer Both sides vulnerable