Cy the Cynic showed me today’s deal from his penny game. North had opened 1NT, and Cy leaped to four spades as South.
“Wasn’t that a mite bold?” I asked.
“I was getting killed,” Cy shrugged. “I needed to recoup.”
“So you got killed some more,” I sighed.
East was Ed, the club expert, who regularly takes Cy to the cleaners. West led the jack of hearts, and the Cynic took the queen and led a trump to dummy’s jack. Ed won with the ACE and returned a heart.
SECOND TRUMP
Cy took the ace and led another trump, expecting to pick up the trumps and win five trump tricks, two hearts, two diamonds and a club. But when West showed out on the second trump, Cy was doomed. He took the king but was stuck in dummy; the defense got another trump, a diamond and a heart.
“If Ed wins the first trump with the queen and returns a heart,” Cy said glumly, “I’ll win and finesse with the queen of clubs to get a discard for my losing heart.”
Overbidding against Ed is a good way to lose.
DAILY QUESTION
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You hold: S A Q 4 H K 4 3 D 10 7 4 C 5 4 3 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, you respond 1NT and he next bids two diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: Most partners will have extra strength. With diamonds and an average hand, they would have bid two diamonds directly. Since you had a sound 1NT bid, you might jump to 3NT. But if you’re not sure of partner’s holding, make a battlefield decision and bid 2NT or three diamonds.
North dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S K J 10
H 6 5 2
D K Q J
C A Q 10 8
WEST
S 6
H J 10 8 7
D A 6 3 2
C K J 9 7
EAST
S A Q 4
H K 4 3
D 10 7 4
C 5 4 3 2
SOUTH
S 9 8 7 5 3 2
H A Q 9
D 9 8 5
C 6
North East South West
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1 NT Pass 4 S(!) All Pass
Opening lead — H J