Bridge: Nov. 11, 2024

To start the week, test your defense. Cover today’s East and South cards. Try to beat four spades.
Your partner’s raise to two hearts over North’s double didn’t promise much. When South bid two spades, you had the strength and shape to compete to three hearts, but North bid game, hoping his honors were well placed.

You lead the king of hearts: three, nine, ten. What next?
East’s nine is a “count” signal, showing an even number of hearts. Your ace will not cash, but you need three more tricks from somewhere. You will get the ace of clubs, so you must hope East has a trump trick. And you will also need a ruff.

SINGLETON
You could continue with the ace and a second club, hoping East could ruff. But if he had four hearts plus a singleton club, he would have jumped to three hearts, preemptive, over the double.

At Trick Two lead a low club. Declarer wins in his hand and lets the queen of trumps ride. East wins, returns his last club and ruffs the third club.

Did you find the logical and winning defense?
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 7 H A K 7 5 2 D K 9 5 C A 6 5 2. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two hearts and he next bids three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: For some partnerships using a “2/1” style, partner’s “high reverse” to three diamonds would not promise extra strength, and then you would have to bid 3NT. But if three diamonds suggests a strong hand, your hand is too promising to sign off at game. Bid four clubs. Your partner might hold AK432,Q4,AQJ84,3, and you could make a grand slam.

West dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S A 10 6 2
H Q 6 3
D A Q
C K Q 8 3
WEST
S 7
H A K 7 5 2
D K 9 5
C A 6 5 2
EAST
S K 5 4
H J 9 8 4
D 8 7 4 2
C 9 4
SOUTH
S Q J 9 8 3
H 10
D J 10 6 3
C J 10 7

West North East South

1 H Dbl 2 H 2 S

3 H 4 S All Pass

Opening lead — H K
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