If I had a nickel for every time I had no idea what was going on, I would think, “Why do I keep getting all these nickels?” -– graffiti
In a team-of-four match, both Souths played at 3NT, and West led a spade. Both declarers played low from dummy, ducked East’s jack, won the spade return with the king and led a diamond to the king. At one table West took the ace and led a third spade. South won and led a second diamond, and when West followed with the deuce, dummy played the eight. East won but had no more spades, and South had nine tricks.
SYMPATHYI can sympathize with the second declarer; when he led a diamond to his king at Trick Three, West followed with the deuce!Now South didn’t know what was going on; he led a second diamond, and when West played the jack, South played low from dummy, hoping East had held A-5. But East played the ten, and West led a third spade, forcing out the ace. South then led a third diamond. He was stunned when West took the ace — and two spades. Down one.
DAILY QUESTIONYou hold: S Q 9 8 5 3 H Q 8 D A J 2 C 7 5 4. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two diamonds and you return to two hearts. Partner then bids two spades. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your partner has a strongish hand. If he had a minimum hand with three-card spade support -– say KJ2,AK654,Q654,3 – he would have raised your one spade to two spades to limit his strength. You have nine points, none “wasted” opposite partner’s club shortness. Bid four spades.
South dealerN-S vulnerableNORTHS K 4H A 7 5D Q 9 8 6 4C J 6 3WESTS Q 9 8 5 3H Q 8D A J 2C 7 5 4EASTS J 7 2H J 10 4 2D 10 5C Q 10 9 2SOUTHS A 10 6H K 9 6 3D K 7 3C A K 8
South West North East
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 5©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.