Bridge >> By Frank Stewart

“The man is as trustworthy as a new bottle of catsup,” Cy the Cynic grumbled to me.

Cy had just lost money to Ed, my club’s best player, in a penny Chicago game. Cy was declarer at today’s 3NT, and Ed, West, led the queen of hearts. Cy refused the first heart and won the next. Needing to set up the diamonds, he led a club to dummy and returned a diamond: nine, king ... and a smooth three from Ed!

“I led a second diamond,” Cy told me, “and when Ed followed with the four, I naturally played dummy’s ten. East took the jack and led a third heart to dummy’s ace.”

THIRD DIAMOND

“I still thought I was safe,” the Cynic went on, “but when I led a third diamond, Ed produced the ace and cashed two hearts. Instead of scoring 600 points, I lost 100.”

Ed applied a principle of notrump defense: When you hope to beat the contract by using a long suit, cling to your entry until your suit is set up. For Ed to duck the first diamond was automatic; if Cy had the jack, Ed’s play might not matter.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 8 6 3 ♥ A6 2 ♦ Q 10 6 2 ♣ A K 3. Your partner opens one club, you respond one diamond and he bids one heart. What do you say?

ANSWER: You must try to reach game. If a jump to three clubs would be forcing, that call would be acceptable, but many pairs treat a jump-preference as invitational, and if partner has spade strength, you probably belong at 3NT. Bid one spade, a “fourth-suit” call that doesn’t promise spades but merely asks partner to bid again.

South dealer

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