Daily Bridge Club

Logical play

Here’s a puzzle to test your logical thinking: What is the significance of the series of numbers 8549176320?

The essence of good bridge is problem-solving: acting on inferences from the bidding and play. In today’s deal, West leads the king of hearts against South’s two spades. When East follows with the deuce, West shifts to a diamond, and East takes the K-A and leads a third diamond, won by South’s queen.

South must pick up the trumps to make his contract. Which defender should he play for the queen?

INFERENCE

South can draw an inference from the bidding. He should lead a club next to locate the ace. When East wins and returns a club, South can place West with the queen of trumps. If East had a queen plus the two aces and king he has shown, he would have opened the bidding.

If West had the ace of clubs, South would play East for the queen of spades. West would have opened if he’d had it.

Puzzle answer: The numbers are arranged alphabetically if spelled out.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ K 10 9 5 ♥ Q765 ♦ 532 ♣ Q 10. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: The auction may be competitive, so plan ahead. Bid one spade. If, for instance, opener rebids two diamonds and two passes follow, you can try two hearts and play at the two level in the trump suit your partner prefers. He may have fourcard support for only one major. West dealer

Both sides vulnerable