Bridge: March 31, 2022

You’ve been called to serve on a grand jury, investigating the result of today’s deal. Be apprised of the facts and decide whether to hand down any indictments.

Against South’s four hearts, West led the queen of diamonds. Declarer took dummy’s ace and led a trump: king, ace, six. He cashed the king of diamonds, ruffed his last diamond in dummy and exited with a trump.

When East took the queen, he led the deuce of spades. South consulted the ceiling and then the floor and finally played … the king. West took the ace and returned a spade, and East won and cashed the ace of clubs for down one.

TRUE BILL

Do you issue a true bill? Was South’s play in spades an unfortunate misguess or a clear error?

Indict South. East failed to open the bidding in third position and showed the K-Q of hearts. But to have a chance, South must assume that East has the ace of clubs, so South can’t play East for the ace of spades as well. South should have played the jack of spades.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 10 7 5 3 H J 10 4 3 D A 4 C J 6 2. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Opener’s non-jump change of suit is not forcing, and since your hand was barely worth a response, to pass is possible. Still, you have an ace and a possibly useful jack, and partner may have as many as 18 points, so many players would raise to two spades as a chance-giving action.

West dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S 10 7 5 3

H J 10 4 3

D A 4

C J 6 2

WEST

S A 9 4

H 6

D Q J 10 7

C Q 9 7 4 3

EAST

S Q 8 6 2

H K Q

D 8 6 5 3

C A 10 8

SOUTH

S K J

H A 9 8 7 5 2

D K 9 2

C K 5

West North East South
Pass Pass Pass 1 H
Pass 2 H Pass 4 H
All Pass

Opening lead — D Q

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