Bridge: July 27, 2024

Today’s North scrapes up a 1NT response to South’s one spade. South’s jump-shift to three diamonds is forcing to game, so North grits his teeth and tries 3NT. (Many players would bid three spades instead.)

South converts to four spades. For him to simply bid four spades at his second turn would have been practical instead of telling the defenders about his diamonds.

West leads the deuce of hearts, and South takes the ace and is in dummy for the only time. He has possible finesses in three suits. Which finesse should he choose?

TRUMP FINESSE

A finesse with the jack of trumps may not gain even if it wins; East might have Q-x-x-x. A diamond finesse with the jack may not gain even if it wins; East might have K-10-x-x. But if East has the ace of clubs, declarer gains by leading a club toward his king.

As the cards lie, South makes his game. The queen of trumps doesn’t fall under the A-K, but when the missing diamonds break 3-3, South loses one diamond, one trump and one club.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A K J 10 9 8 H 4 D A Q J 6 C K 2. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. You double, and your partner bids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your hand is potent, but since partner’s bid promised no values at all, for you to insist on game would be a bit bold. A bid of two spades would show a good hand but not one this good. Bid three spades. If partner has any sign of a trick, he should go on.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S 4 2

H A J 7 5

D 5 4 2

C J 7 6 3

WEST

S Q 7 5

H Q 9 6 2

D 10 8 3

C Q 10 8

EAST

S 6 3

H K 10 8 3

D K 9 7

C A 9 5 4

SOUTH

S A K J 10 9 8

H 4

D A Q J 6

C K 2

South West North East
1 S Pass 1 NT Pass
3 D Pass 3 NT Pass
4 S All Pass
Opening lead — H 2

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