Daily Bridge Club

Youthful falsecard

Bridge may have acquired an undeserved label as a game for older people, but there are many excellent college and junior players. When the ACBL staged its Spring Championships in Memphis, one of the best defensive plays of the week was turned in by 22-year-old Kevin Rosenberg.

In the final of the Platinum Pairs, North-South bid to four hearts on an artificial auction. (My Aunt Flo and her partner would have reached the same spot a lot faster.) West led a club, and declarer, a top expert, won in dummy and chose to lead the deuce of trumps. Rosenberg followed with ... the queen!

FINE RESULT

When South’s king held, he naturally let the eight of trumps ride next, playing West for A-9-4-3. Rosenberg scored his nine and ace, holding South to plus 450, a fine result since most other Souths won 12 tricks for plus 480.

Kevin Rosenberg has a pedigree: His father Michael is a world champion, and his mother Debbie is an expert player, teacher and leading advocate for youth bridge.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ J 10 ♥ K 10 8 7 6 ♦ A 10 7 6 ♣ K 7. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts, he rebids two spades and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner suggests six spades, four clubs and minimum opening values. With A Q 7 6 4, 5, K 5 4, A 9 6 2, he would have no reason to disturb 2NT. Bid four spades. If partner holds A Q 9 6 5 3, 3, K 4, Q 6 5 3, he will have a fine chance for 10 tricks. East dealer Neither side vulnerable