Cy the Cynic says that when you get something for nothing, it just means you haven’t been billed yet.
In today’s deal, West led a trump against four hearts. Delighted with the free finesse, South played low from dummy and captured East’s queen. He took the ace of spades, ruffed a spade with dummy’s ten of trumps, led a diamond to his ace and ruffed his last spade with the ace.
South next ruffed a diamond and cashed the jack of trumps. When East discarded, South tried a club to dummy’s king, but the defense took three clubs and West’s high nine of trumps.
SINGLETON
South thought the trump lead had given him something for nothing — until the bill came due. West won’t be leading from the queen of trumps. If he has led a singleton, South will probably fail. If the trumps break 2-2, South is safe.
In case East has the singleton queen, South must put up dummy’s ace on the first trump. He can ruff two spades in dummy and still draw trumps, losing only three club tricks.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A 10 6 H K J 8 7 6 4 D A C 7 5 2. Your partner opens 1NT. The next player passes. What do you say?
ANSWER: The hand is too promising to sign off at four hearts (or to “transfer” with a bid of four diamonds). A sound hand for partner such as K Q 4 2, A 9 2, J 6 5, A K 3 would produce a fine play for 12 tricks. One possible approach is to bid two diamonds as a transfer. When partner bids two hearts, jump to four hearts as a mild try for slam.
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S Q
H A 10 5
D J 8 6 5 3
C K 6 4 3
WEST
S K 8 4
H 9 3 2
D K 10 4 2
C Q J 8
EAST
S J 9 7 5 3 2
H Q
D Q 9 7
C A 10 9
SOUTH
S A 10 6
H K J 8 7 6 4
D A
C 7 5 2
South West North East
1 H Pass 2 D Pass
2 H Pass 3 H Pass
4 H All Pass
Opening lead — H 2
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