Splitting headache
“I have a splitting headache,” a club player said to me in the lounge.
“Take three aspirins,” Cy the Cynic told him.
“Not a pain in my noggin,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do in this deal.”
Our friend was East. At four hearts, South ruffed West’s second high club, led a trump to the ace and returned a trump.
“I had a splitting issue,” East said. “I never know whether to split my honors in this situation. If I play low, declarer may play his king, giving me two tricks, but he may play the ten. If I play an honor, I give the show away.”
MAKING FOUR
East had played low — and South played the ten. He next forced out East’s ace of diamonds, ruffed a club return in dummy and lost only one trump. Making four.
In this deal, declarer was threatened with losing trump control, hence East should have split. If South plays low, East leads his last club, and whether South ruffs in his hand or in dummy, he loses two more tricks. Nor does it help him to win the second trump.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: KQ75 A63 K Q 5 4 Q 8. The dealer, at your right, opens two hearts (weak). You double, and your partner responds two spades. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your double promised a hand worth at least 16 points in support of any suit your partner named. Since you have no more than that, pass. Partner was obliged to respond and may have a weak hand. You can be happy that he responded in spades and not in clubs. West dealer N-S vulnerable