Bridge: July 11, 2024

“My cousin the Queen of Hearts brags that her card is supreme,” the Queen of Diamonds told Alice at the Mad Hatter’s game. “Big deal. Even a deuce of clubs can win a trick if clubs are trumps.”

“Yes,” Alice said in a tone of polite disbelief. “Surely, losing a trick can be better than winning one.”

“Deal the cards and I’ll show you,” the Queen sniffed.

When Alice played at four spades, West, the Hatter, led the king of hearts. Alice ducked, won the next heart and saw three more losers: a club and two diamonds. She drew trumps and led the A-K and a third club.

RUFF-SLUFF

The Hatter won and pondered. He had to break the diamonds to avoid conceding a ruff-sluff. If he led low, Alice could succeed by playing low from dummy. Nor would leading the ten beat the contract if Alice read the position.

So with a nod to the Queen of Diamonds, the Hatter led the queen. Whatever Alice did, she would lose two diamonds. Down one.

“See what I mean?” the Queen of Diamonds chortled.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 8 7 6 2 H A 4 D 9 6 5 C A K 3. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he jumps to three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s jump-rebid in his own suit shows a good six-card suit (rarely, a seven-card suit) and about 16 high-card points. If he has A4,KQJ962,A3,Q54, you might make a grand slam. To jump directly to six hearts would be reasonable. If you prefer to investigate for seven, cue-bid four clubs.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A Q 10 5 3

H 10 3

D A J 7

C 10 6 4

WEST

S 9 4

H K Q 9 7

D Q 10 4 3

C Q J 5

EAST

S J

H J 8 6 5 2

D K 8 2

C 9 8 7 2

SOUTH

S K 8 7 6 2

H A 4

D 9 6 5

C A K 3

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

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