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On a Monday, an environmental advocacy group sent out a press notice that read “Save the whales. Tomorrow may be too late.” The notice was marked, “For release Tuesday.”
Today’s West led the ten of spades against 3NT, and South won in dummy and let the ten of clubs ride. He hoped for five clubs, two spades, two hearts and at least one diamond. But when West took the king and led another spade, South had only eight tricks, and when East got in with the ace of diamonds, the defense ran the spades for down one.
ACE APPEARS
South mistimed. At Trick Two, dummy should lead a low diamond. When East’s ace appears, South can win four diamonds, two spades, two hearts and one club.
Suppose East played a low diamond. If South’s king held, he could switch to clubs. If instead South’s king lost to West, South could win the spade return and take the queen of diamonds; if the jack fell, he would be home. If both defenders played low diamonds, South could finesse in clubs.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S K Q H A 7 3 D Q 10 5 3 2 C Q 10 5. You open one diamond, your partner responds one spade, you bid 1NT and he jumps to three diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: Better ask your partner. If his jump-preference is forcing, bid 3NT or maybe bid three spades (treating your K-Q as three-card support) or three hearts. If partner’s bid is invitational, and many pairs treat it that way, pass. You have no extra strength to justify a further move.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S K Q
H A 7 3
D Q 10 5 3 2
C Q 10 5
WEST
S 10 9 8 4 2
H J 10
D J 9 8 7
C K 4
EAST
S J 6 5 3
H Q 9 8 6 2
D A
C 7 6 3
SOUTH
S A 7
H K 5 4
D K 6 4
C A J 9 8 2
South West North East
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 10
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