In the club lounge, someone asked my friend the English professor if he could name the longest one-syllable English word.
“That reminds me of a deal,” the prof said. “I was North, and against four hearts. West led the queen of spades. East took the ace and led a low trump.
“My partner won, cashed the king of spades and ruffed his last spade in dummy. He next led the A-K-Q of clubs, pitching two diamonds. Alas, West ruffed and cashed his ace of diamonds, and East’s ace of trumps won the setting trick.”
BEST LINE
“South erred,” I remarked. “He can return a trump at Trick Three. If East wins and leads a spade, South takes the king, draws trumps and runs dummy’s high clubs, pitching a spade and a diamond. If clubs break 4-2, he ruffs the fourth club and tries to guess the diamond position — not hard after East has shown two aces.”
“Quite right,” the prof nodded. “Even if East leads a club at the fourth trick, declarer should succeed.”
“What did you do when he went down?” I asked.
“I screeched.”
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A 7 6 H A 6 2 D Q 8 2 C J 10 9 4. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?
ANSWER: Partner has at least opening values, and yours will offer a play for game if he has a bit extra, especially since you will know where the missing high cards lie. Bid 2NT, inviting game. If the defenders lead clubs, fine. They will spend nine of their high-card points to set up your jack.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 9 5
H 7 3
D K 10 5
C A K Q 6 5 2
WEST
S Q J 10 4 2
H 5 4
D A 7 6 4
C 7 3
EAST
S A 7 6
H A 6 2
D Q 8 2
C J 10 9 4
SOUTH
S K 8 3
H K Q J 10 9 8
D J 9 3
C 8
North East South West
1 C Pass 1 H Pass
2 C Pass 3 H Pass
4 H All Pass
Opening lead — S Q
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