“You’re still dating a lot,” I said to Cy the Cynic. “Ever tried computer dating?”
“Once,” Cy replied solemnly. “I quit after I was stood up by a mainframe and a laptop.”
Computers may be good at matchmaking, but they aren’t at bridge. The skill level is far below that of chess.
A human declarer made today’s game. He took the ace of clubs and led a heart from dummy: four, queen, deuce. South then led a trump to dummy and returned a second heart, and East pondered … and took his ace. South later threw a diamond on the king of hearts, losing one trick in each side suit.
THIRD HEART
Bridge has psychological aspects that a computer program can’t grasp. A computer might lead a heart to the queen and return a second heart, ducking in dummy. If East had A-10-4, the computer could ruff a third heart, setting up dummy’s king.
A human declarer plays on East’s fear of losing his ace of hearts. If South held A Q J 6 5 4, Q J, 8 5, 9 5 4, East would regret it if he ducked the second heart.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S K 10 9 7 H K 7 6 3 D K 6 3 C A 6. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?
ANSWER: As responder, you want to place the contract at your second turn — or at least bid to the limit of your strength to suggest a contract. On that principle, your correct bid is four spades. A jump to three spades would be invitational. You would choose that action if your king of hearts were a low heart.
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S K 10 9 7
H K 7 6 3
D K 6 3
C A 6
WEST
S 2
H J 9 2
D 10 9 8 2
C K Q J 5 2
EAST
S 8 3
H A 10 8 4
D A J 7
C 10 8 7 3
SOUTH
S A Q J 6 5 4
H Q 5
D Q 5 4
C 9 4
South West North East
2 S Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — C K
(C)2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
