DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

In December, the ACBL staged its Fall Championships in San Francisco, a marvelous site though a long trip for some. The cost of attending a 10-day NABC remains prohibitive for many players.

The ageless Eddie Kantar, whose writing has entertained and enlightened players for eight decades, was on hand for a book signing. For years Eddie has contributed an instructional column to NABC Daily Bulletins.

In today’s deal, South takes the ace of hearts and can stake his club slam on a spade finesse (which would end the play quickly). Kantar notes that South must instead try to set up dummy’s fifth diamond. South proceeds thus: ace of diamonds, diamond ruff, trump to dummy, diamond ruff. When East-West follow, South leads a trump to dummy and ruffs a diamond. He goes to the ace of spades to pitch a spade on the good fifth diamond, concedes a heart and ruffs his last heart in dummy.

If diamonds broke 4-3 (or if trumps broke 3-0), South could fall back on the spade finesse.

DAILY QUESTION You hold: S 9 8 H 10 8 6 D J C A Q 10 8 7 6 5. You deal and open three clubs. Your partner bids three hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s bid is forcing. For him to act with a good suit but nothing more would make no sense since your preempt promised a strong suit. Your hand couldn’t be better for a heart contract; you have an ace and a side singleton. Bid four hearts or, if partner will understand, cue-bid four diamonds.