Daily Bridge Club

Christmas gifts

“Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners dressed in style.” — a 7-year-old girl’s rendition of a Christmas carol.

Against today’s four hearts, West found a good attacking lead: a low spade. South captured East’s queen, drew trumps and led a diamond: nine, king, ace. East returned a spade, and West took the jack and king. Later, East got his jack of diamonds: down one.

South’s play wasn’t stylish: He must duck the first spade. He wins the next, takes the Q-J of trumps and attacks the diamonds. He loses two diamonds to East, but dummy’s diamonds will furnish a discard for South’s spade loser.

WISE MEN

A Christmas tale with which I can identify: In a kids’ Nativity play, the little guys playing the Magi approached the manger. “I bring gold,” said one. “I bring myrrh,” the second announced. The third little boy hesitated, clearly having trouble with his line, and finally stammered, “Frank sent this.”

And I send to my readers my wishes for a holiday season of peace and joy.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: A 10 5 A Q J 9 3 8 6 2 K 5. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. You overcall one heart, the next player passes and your partner bids one spade. Opening bidder passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Some pairs would treat partner’s new-suit bid as not forcing and discouraging. Others — those who would regard your one heart as a constructive action — would treat it as forcing. In either case, you can raise to two spades. South dealer N-S vulnerable