Darkest Before Dawn


frs1016@centurylink.net
“I’ve got as much chance as a wooden-legged man playing wide receiver,” Unlucky Louie sighed. “No, I’ve got as much chance as a wooden-legged man in a forest fire.”
In a penny game, Louie held today’s sterling North hand. Luckily for him, South’s hand was as strong as a giant; South bid game with no encouragement from Louie.

Dlr: South ♠ 5 3 2
Vul: E-W 6 5 4 3 2
6 2
♣ 5 4 2
♠ 7 ♠ K 10 6
A 10 7 K J 9 8
J 10 9 8 4 7 5
♣ K J 10 6 ♣ 9 8 7 3
♠ A Q J 9 8 4
Q
A K Q 3
♣ A Q
South West North East
2♣ Pass 2 Pass
2♠ Pass 2NT Pass
3 Pass 3♠ Pass
4♠ All Pass

Opening lead — J
Actually, Louie was doubly lucky since South was Ed, the club expert. West led the J and Ed took the ace, king and queen and threw a club from dummy.

Last Club

East ruffed and led a club, and Ed rose with the ace, led his low diamond … and discarded dummy’s last club. He ruffed West’s club return in dummy, led a trump to his queen, drew East’s king with the ace and claimed.
“I don’t know why you were complaining,” I told Louie. “Your hand won a trick.”
I doubt I would have done as well as Ed. I might have tried to ruff my low diamond in dummy or started by leading the A-Q of trumps. Ed played as if he could see all 52 cards.

Daily Question

You hold:
♠ 7
A 10 7
J 10 9 8 4
♣ K J 10 6
Your partner opens 1♠, you respond 1NT, he bids 2♣ and you raise to 3♣ Partner bids 3. What do you say?

ANSWER
Your partner doesn’t have four hearts; he would have bid 2 at his second turn. He is trying for game and may have 5-3-1-4 or 5-3-0-5 pattern. Since your hand is suitable — you have little waste in diamonds — bid 5♣.

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