Bridge: Aug. 16, 2022

My colleague Alfred Sheinwold (1912-1997), who established this column, experienced a pithy sense of humor. He wrote that bridge is a battle of wits, but some players go into it unarmed. Freddy might have meant that declarers get rid of makeable contracts by lacking uncomplicated inferences.

In opposition to today’s four spades, West led the king of hearts. South took the ace, led a diamond to dummy and returned a trump to his king. West collected in his ace, cashed a coronary heart and exited with a diamond.

Declarer received and led a next trump to his queen. West discarded, and East obtained two trump tricks for down one.

TRUMP Methods

West’s opening bid marked him with the ace of trumps, so South’s guide of a trump to his king couldn’t obtain. If West held, say, A-10 doubleton, South would drop two trumps.

The crucial situation is when West has the singleton ace. At Trick Two South should lead a lower trump. He loses two trumps and a heart. If West had the A-10, South would guide to the king later, keeping his trump losers to two.

Daily Dilemma

You maintain: S 8 5 3 2 H 10 8 D A K Q C A K Q 7. You open up a person club, and your associate bids one coronary heart. The opponents move. What do you say?

Answer: Bid one particular spade, hoping associate will bid all over again if you have a recreation. Your hand is not solid more than enough to soar to two spades, forcing to sport opposite any old responding hand. A lot of gurus would prefer a jump to 2NT to display a balanced 18 or 19 points. Their partnership could possibly have a process to again into a 4-4 spade suit.

West supplier

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S 8 5 3 2

H 10 8

D A K Q

C A K Q 7

WEST

S A

H K Q J 7 6 4

D J 10 7 2

C J 2

EAST

S J 10 9 7

H 9 5 3

D 8 6 5

C 8 5 4

SOUTH

S K Q 6 4

H A 2

D 9 4 3

C 10 9 6 3

West North East South
1H Dbl Go 2S
Move 4S All Move
Opening direct – H K

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