“What did you do on board 15?” Unlucky Louie asked us in the club lounge after a duplicate.

Every South had played at six hearts.

“They led the nine of diamonds against me,” Ed, our best player, said, “and I ruffed East’s ace ... with the eight of trumps. I took the A-K of trumps and next led the queen of clubs. West had to duck, else dummy’s jack would be an entry to the high diamonds. So then I led the deuce of trumps, and West had to win. No matter what he returned, I had the rest.”

“At my table,” Rose spoke up, “the opening lead was a diamond. I ruffed East’s ace, drew trumps and led the queen of clubs. When West ducked, I ran the trumps. West had room for five cards and had to guard his king of clubs and queen of spades. So I led the ace and four of clubs, and he had to lead from the queen of spades.”

“Well done,” I said.

We asked Louie what happened at his table.

“West’s opening lead was a trump,” Louie replied sourly. “The slam was unmakeable.”

Daily question >> You hold: ? J 10 4 ? 6 5 ? K Q J 7 3 ? J 10 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond 1NT and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

Answer >> Since this is a junky hand, and your diamond honors may be wasted if partner has a singleton, I would be tempted to pass. Still, the disciplined call is a “false preference” to two hearts to play at the 5-2 fit. Moreover, there is no reason why partner can’t hold Q 3, A K 8 4 3, A 2, A 9 5 4. Then you can make 3NT.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

Tribune Content Agency