A player from the club came to me with a complaint I had heard before.
“Have you ever felt like your brain is giving you the silent treatment? he asked me. “I must be the worst guesser in the world. I always feel like I’m wrong.
My friend had played today’s 3NT, and West was leading the two of spades: three, king, ace. South led a diamond to dummy’s queen, and East won and returned a spade.
“I took the queen,” South told me, “and led another diamond. When West threw a heart, I won at dummy and then led the AK and a third club. When West called low, I put the queen up. East moved away and I only took eight tricks. Anyone else would have managed to create clubs.
A DIAMOND
The South should guess correctly. West’s lead on the deuce of spades suggested a four-card holding, and West had only one diamond. But with a five-card suit, he would have led that suit against 3NT.
The South should place the West with a 4-4-1-4 distribution and play dummy’s ten on the third club.
This week: good idea.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: SK 10 8 HKJ 10 DK 10 9 6 3 C 9 8. Your partner opens a club, you answer a diamond and he announces a spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: This is a matter of judgment. Your hand sits on the fence between a 1NT bid and an invitational jump to a 2NT game. In my opinion, the odds of play with this hand are too strong not to invite. You have a five-card suit and excellent spot cards that can be a non-trump factor. Bid 2NT.
South Dealer
BORN. vulnerable
NORTH
S 7 4 3
H 9 5
DAQJ5
CQ10 3 2
WEST
SJ9 6 2
HQ 6 4 3
Day 8
CJ 7 6 4
EAST
Sask. 10 8
HKJ10
DK 10 9 6 3
C98
SOUTH
SAQ5
HA 8 7 2
D 7 4 2
CAK 5
South West North East
1 Pass NT 3 Pass NT All
Opening lead — S 2
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