Bridge: April 18, 2023

“My partner says he’s a self-made player,” a club member told me. “He says he has never read a bridge book. He relies on intuition.”

My friend said his partner’s seat-of-the-pants style didn’t work when he was today’s declarer. At 3NT, he took the queen of spades and led a club to finesse with dummy’s queen.

“East took the king and returned a spade,” I was told. “My partner won, took the ace of clubs and led a third club. East got the jack and nine, and when hearts broke badly, partner took only eight tricks. What do you think of my `self-made’ partner?”

“I would have to say he’s a product of unskilled labor,” I shrugged.

BEST CHANCE

Correctly handling single suit combinations is a learned skill for most players. South’s best chance for a second club trick is to take the ace and lead low toward his ten.

As the cards lie, he wins two club tricks easily. If West had the jack, South would lead toward dummy’s queen later, winning if West had the king or clubs broke 3-3.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 8 4 2 H K 6 4 D 6 4 3 C A Q 5 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one spade. Your partner doubles, you respond (“advance”) two clubs, and he cue-bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner’s cue bid suggests a huge hand, probably with club support and a “control” in spades. Your hand couldn’t be any stronger, else you would have bid more than two clubs. Slam is likely. Bid four clubs. A typical hand for partner might be A,AQ32,AK7,K10963.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S 8 4 2

H K 6 4

D 6 4 3

C A Q 5 2

WEST

S J 10 9 7 5

H 8

D Q 9 8 5 2

C 8 4

EAST

S 6 3

H Q J 10 9 3

D J 10

C K J 9 6

SOUTH

S A K Q

H A 7 5 2

D A K 7

C 10 7 3

South West North East
2 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S J

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