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“Grapefruit told me he moved into a new retirement home,” Unlucky Louie informed us in the club lounge.
“What’s its name?” I asked.
“Based on his behavior, Atrocious Manors,” Cy the Cynic observed.
Grapefruit, our acid-tongued member, makes his partners miserable. He was today’s North. His cue bid of 3♥ substituted for the Stayman convention. West led the ♥A-Q, and South took the king and started the diamonds, preparing to cash out.
| Dlr: South | ♠ K 6 4 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vul: N-S | ♥ 9 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A K J 9 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ 9 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ J 5 | ♠ 9 8 7 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♥ A Q J 8 5 4 | ♥ 10 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 2 | ♦ 10 8 7 6 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A 10 7 6 | ♣ Q 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♠ A Q 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ K 7 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ Q 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ K J 8 3 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Opening lead ♥A
Doubleton
Alas, West discarded on the second diamond, and though the ♠J fell doubleton, South couldn’t untangle his nine tricks. He went down one, and Grapefruit told the kibitzers that South was one taco short of a combination plate.
Diamonds will break 5-1 about 14 percent of the time. After South takes the ♥K, he gets an extra chance by cashing the A-Q of spades. When the jack falls, he takes the ♠10, four diamonds and then the ♠K to fulfill the contract.
Daily Question
You hold: ♠K 6 4 2 ♥9 3 ♦A K J 9 3 ♣9 4.
With only your side vulnerable, the dealer, at your left, opens 3♥. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids 4♥.
What do you say?
