Bridge: June 27, 2024

A message on the changeable sign beside a church in my town: “Prophecy Class canceled due to unforeseen events.”

Today’s East could have used some foresight. At 3NT, South won the third club and led a diamond: five, jack, queen. East then shifted to the jack of spades.

Declarer took the queen and ace and led a second diamond to dummy’s jack. East took his king and led another spade, but South won and cashed three diamonds. At Trick Twelve he led a heart to his jack and took the ace to make 3NT.

MISSING POINTS

East can place West with the K-J of clubs, so South needs every missing point for his 1NT bid. Moreover, East knows that if South is compelled to try a heart finesse, it will win. When East takes the queen of diamonds, he should shift to the eight of hearts.

South will be reluctant to finesse when the diamonds may produce four tricks (for nine in all). If South takes the ace and finesses in diamonds again, East can win and cash his king of hearts for down one.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 6 H Q 7 6 5 D A J 10 7 3 C 7 6. Your partner opens one club, the next player overcalls one spade and you double (negative). Your partner bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: In the auction one club by your partner, one spade by you, two hearts by him, his second bid would be a strength-showing “reverse.” Here, your negative double promised hearts, and partner raised. His hand is minimum. Pass.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S Q 6

H Q 7 6 5

D A J 10 7 3

C 7 6

WEST

S 8 7 5 2

H 10 4

D 6 5

C K J 9 5 2

EAST

S J 10 9

H K 8 3 2

D K Q 9

C Q 10 3

SOUTH

S A K 4 3

H A J 9

D 8 4 2

C A 8 4

South West North East
1 NT Pass 2 C Pass
2 S Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — C 5

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