Grapefruit, my acid-tongued club member, denies being a grouch. He just doesn’t like traffic, crowds, long lines, kids, politicians, and partners who misplay simple suit combinations.
Grapefruit was today’s North. At 3NT South counted seven top tricks; he probably needed two more in clubs. He won the first spade with the queen and led the deuce of clubs: six, queen, king.
South won East’s spade return in dummy and led another club: seven, jack, ace. He won the next spade and took the ten of clubs. His hopes vanished when East discarded, and Grapefruit announced that South was a prime candidate for natural deselection.
CORRECT PLAY
South’s correct play is to take the king of spades and lead a club to his jack and West’s ace. South wins the next spade, leads a heart to dummy and returns a second club. When East’s king appears, South plays low and has his two club tricks and nine in all.
Play principle: In setting up a suit, lead twice toward the hand with two honors.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S J 9 7 4 3 H Q 5 D 9 2 C A 9 8 6. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he raises to three spades. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your partner promises a hand worth about 17 points with four-card support and suggests unbalanced or semibalanced pattern. Your fifth spade will be a winner, your queen of hearts will fill out partner’s suit and your side card is an ace. Bid four spades. If he holds K Q 10 2, A K J 7 6, K 6 5, 3, an overtrick is possible.
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S K 5
H A K 3 2
D 8 6 5 4
C Q 5 3
WEST
S J 9 7 4 3
H Q 5
D 9 2
C A 9 8 6
EAST
S 10 8 6
H J 10 9 4
D Q J 10 7
C K 7
SOUTH
S A Q 2
H 8 7 6
D A K 3
C J 10 4 2
South West North East
1 C Pass 1 H Pass
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 4
