Periodically speaking

Besides The Bridge World, which enjoys a sterling reputation, two other magazines have excellent content. The Bridge Bulletin, the monthly publication of the American Contract Bridge League, has great features, news and a host of instructional columns. (I have contributed since 1981.) It’s more than worth the annual dues. See acbl.org.

The colorful Better Bridge magazine, published six times a year, has instruction and quizzes for advancing players. See baronbarclay.com.

August Boehm, an expert who is also a noted concert pianist, offered today’s deal in The Bridge Bulletin. At four spades, suppose South takes the ace of hearts and leads a club to dummy to finesse in trumps.

Down one

West wins, cashes a heart and leads a club, forcing out dummy’s last honor. When he takes the ace of diamonds, the defenders cash a club. Boehm notes that South should count losers. He can afford to lose a trump but not a club. South should lead the ace and a second trump, avoiding a finesse that may lose time. West wins and cashes a heart, but South can win a club shift, draw trumps and force out the ace of diamonds to get a club discard.

Daily question

xYou hold: ♠ K3 ♥ KQJ64 ♦ A73 ♣ 10 8 2. You open one heart, and your partner responds one spade. What do you say?

Answer: Your correct second bid is 1NT to show a balanced, minimum opening bid. Your one heart promised a five-card suit, so a rebid of two hearts, when you might have other options, would suggest at least a six-card suit. If partner’s response had been two diamonds, to rebid two hearts would be reasonable.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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