Bridge: Dec. 25, 2019

Unlucky Louie is not known for foresight. He told me he had lent money to an acquaintance who had been in an accident and needed facial reconstruction surgery.

“Now he’s disappeared,” Louie said, “and I don’t know what he looks like.”

Louie was South in my club’s penny game. North-South would no doubt have made 3NT (not an easy contract to reach), but Louie played at five clubs. West led the ten of hearts: jack, queen, three. East shifted to a trump (not best).

SIGNAL

Louie drew trumps and led a spade, but West signaled “count” with the deuce, and East let dummy’s king win. He won the next spade and led the ace of hearts. Louie ruffed but had to lose a diamond for down one.

Louie succeeds with admirable foresight: He ruffs a heart at Trick Three. Louie then draws trumps and leads a spade to the king, winning. He ruffs a heart, dropping East’s ace, and leads a second spade. When East takes the ace, he is end-played, forced to lead a spade to dummy or a diamond from his king.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 10 5 H A Q 5 D K 9 6 4 C 7 5 2. Your partner opens one club, and you jump to 2NT (forcing, 13 to 15 points, balanced). Partner rebids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner may be concerned about notrump or may be interested in slam. If you held A 9 5, Q 5 2, A K 7 6, 7 5 2, you would bid three diamonds. As it is, try 3NT. (Some pairs treat a 2NT response to a minor-suit opening as invitational; I strongly dislike that treatment.)

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S K Q J 9 8

H K J 7 6 2

D Q 10

C K

WEST

S 7 3 2

H 10 9 8 4

D J 8 7 5

C 4 3

EAST

S A 10 5

H A Q 5

D K 9 6 4

C 7 5 2

SOUTH

S 6 4

H 3

D A 3 2

C A Q J 10 9 8 6

North East South West

1 S Pass 2 C Pass

2 H Pass 4 C Pass

4 H Pass 5 C All Pass

Opening lead — H 10

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