Bridge: Nov. 29, 2023

When I watched today’s deal in my club’s penny Chicago game, East was the dreaded Grapefruit, who owns and operates an acid disposition with a tongue to match. He berates his partners mercilessly.

Grapefruit was East, and West led the king and then the queen of diamonds against South’s four spades. At the third trick West shifted to a heart: deuce, queen, ace. South ruffed his last diamond in dummy and led a trump, losing to West’s ace. He took the rest, making four, and Grapefruit informed West that a one-celled organism could outscore him on an IQ test.

RUFF IN DUMMY

“Shift to the ace and a second trump,” Grapefruit roared, “to stop the diamond ruff in dummy.”

“That’s no good,” West protested. “Then declarer takes six trumps, a heart and three clubs.”

Grapefruit told the kibitzers that if West had a brain transplant, the brain would reject him.

Everybody was wrong. To beat four spades, West must lead a low trump at Trick Two. South has no counter to that defense.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 6 2 H 9 6 3 2 D J 2 C A Q 6 3 2. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens one spade. Your partner doubles, and you respond (“advance”) two hearts. Opener rebids two spades, and two passes follow. What do you say?

ANSWER: Since you seem to have about half the deck in high cards and a probable trump fit, don’t sell out at the two level. Bid three clubs. Your partner will return to three hearts if he has four-card support.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S 6 2

H 9 6 3 2

D J 2

C A Q 6 3 2

WEST

S A 3

H J 5 4

D A K Q 7

C 10 8 7 4

EAST

S 8 4

H K Q 10 8 7

D 10 8 5 4

C J 9

SOUTH

S K Q J 10 9 7 5

H A

D 9 6 3

C K 5

South West North East
1 S Dbl 1 NT 2 H
3 S Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — D K

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