Bridge: June 17, 2022

I sat down to look at Unlucky Louie in my club’s slash-close to penny game, and atypically, the scorepad confirmed him ahead by a handful of hundred factors.

“I believe I’ve ultimately gotten the monkey off my back,” Louie explained to me.

Cy the Cynic was about to labor as Louie’s associate.

“That will depart home for an elephant to choose its area,” Cy growled.

Pushing his luck, Louie roared into today’s six diamonds. West led his singleton trump, and Louie took the king and ace. He following cashed four spades, discarding a heart from dummy, took the ace of hearts and conceded a heart. Alas, East gained and led his final trump, and Louie was trapped with a coronary heart loser.

ELEPHANT

“Cometh the elephant,” the Cynic grumbled.

“West might have led the ace of golf equipment,” Louie sighed.

At Trick Two, Louie should perform a low coronary heart from both of those hands. He wins East’s trump return and cashes the spades, pitching a coronary heart from dummy. Then he can acquire the ace of hearts, ruff his last heart in dummy and claim the slam.

Daily Problem

You maintain: S Q 9 3 H 7 6 4 D K 7 3 C K 8 5 2. Your spouse opens a single club. The upcoming participant passes. What do you say?

Respond to: Associate may possibly have opened with a “prepared bid” in a three-card suit, but that is his issue. Bid two golf equipment. This challenge displays a draw back of “inverted” minor-fit raises: A elevate to two clubs would be solid and forcing a elevate to 3 golf equipment would be weak and preemptive. Some responding arms are unsuited to either call.

South supplier

N-S susceptible

NORTH

S Q 9 3

H 7 6 4

D K 7 3

C K 8 5 2

WEST

S 8 2

H K 10 5 2

D 8

C A 10 7 6 4 3

EAST

S 7 6 5 4

H Q J 3

D 6 4 2

C Q J 9

SOUTH

S A K J 10

H A 9 8

D A Q J 10 9 5

C None

South West North East
2 C Go 2 NT Move
3 D Go 4 D Go
6 D All Move
Opening lead — D 8

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