“One more bad decision,” a club player told me, “and I’m giving up the game. I misguess everything in sight.”He played at four hearts, and West led the K-A and a third club.“I ruffed East’s queen and drew trumps,” my friend said, “leaving me with none. I took my diamond tricks and then led a spade. When West played low, I put up dummy’s king, misguessing as usual. East took the ace and cashed a club.”
Even if South plays the jack of spades, he goes down. His error came when he drew trumps. Since trumps will not often break 3-3, South should lead a spade at Trick Four, while he still has trump control.
CLUB LEADWhen West plays low (he couldn’t gain by taking the ace if he had it; dummy could ruff a fourth club lead), South should play dummy’s jack. If West had the ace plus the A-K of clubs, he might have been in the bidding. When East takes the ace, South can win any return, draw trumps and score 10 tricks.
Luckily for South, vows to give up the game expire at midnight the same day.This week: reading the cards.DAILY QUESTIONYou hold: S Q 7 6 2 H 8 3 D 6 5 4 C A K 5 3. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he jumps to three hearts. What do you say?
ANSWER: Partner’s jump-rebid in his own suit is invitational to game, not forcing. He has a good six-card or seven-card suit with about 16 high-card points. You have two sure tricks and a tolerance for his suit. Bid four hearts, especially if vulnerable. Partner is not guaranteed to make it, but the game bonus is worth trying for.
West dealerNeither side vulnerableNORTHS K J 9 5H Q 2D K J 9 2C 10 7 4WESTS Q 7 6 2H 8 3D 6 5 4C A K 5 3EASTS A 10 8H 7 6 5 4D 8 7C Q 9 8 6SOUTHS 4 3H A K J 10 9D A Q 10 3C J 2
West North East South
Pass Pass Pass 1 H
Pass 1 S Pass 2 D
Pass 3 D Pass 3 H
Pass 4 H All Pass
Opening lead — C K©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.