Bridge: June 10, 2024
In my club’s penny game, North was Grapefruit, an expert … in extemperroneous speaking. He berates his partners mercilessly.
South played at four spades after an unlikely auction, and West led a heart. South won with the king and led a trump: nine, king, four. He went back to the ace of hearts and led a second trump. East took his ace and led a diamond, and when West won and led a third heart, East ruffed. West also got a club for down one.
OVERQUALIFIED
“Partner,” Grapefruit growled, “if you applied for a job as an idiot, you would be overqualified.”
“You tried for game with 2NT,” South said, giving as good as he got, “I signed off, and you accepted your own try.”
Grapefruit told the kibitzers that South had no grain in his silo.
Grapefruit’s raise to four spades was wrong, but South could succeed; at Trick Three he must lead a diamond. If East wins and leads a club, South ducks and wins the next club. He has removed West’s only entries to give East a heart ruff.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 4 H 9 7 6 4 2 D A 9 5 C K 10 5 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids two diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your hand has too much game potential to settle for a competitive bid of two hearts. The fifth heart will be a winner, and the ace of diamonds surely faces shortness. If partner has AJ73,AK53,4,J943, you will be a big favorite. Bid three hearts, inviting game.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 10 3
H A K J
D Q 10 8 7 4
C J 6 3
WEST
S 4
H 9 7 6 4 2
D A 9 5
C K 10 5 2
EAST
S A J 9
H 10 8
D K J 6 3
C Q 8 7 4
SOUTH
S K Q 8 7 6 5 2
H Q 5 3
D 2
C A 9
South West North East
1 S Pass 2 D Pass
2 S Pass 2 NT Pass
3 S Pass 4 S(!) All Pass
Opening lead — H 7
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