If I had a nickel for every time I had no idea what was going on, I would think, “Why do I keep getting all these nickels?” — graffiti

In a team-of-four match, both Souths played at 3NT, and West led a spade. Both declarers played low from dummy, ducked East’s jack, won the spade return with the king and led a diamond to the king. At one table West took the ace and led a third spade. South won and led a second diamond, and when West followed with the deuce, dummy played the eight. East won but had no more spades, and South had nine tricks.

I can sympathize with the second declarer; when he led a diamond to his king at Trick Three, West followed with the deuce!

Now South didn’t know what was going on; he led a second diamond, and when West played the jack, South played low from dummy, hoping East had held A-5. But East played the ten, and West led a third spade, forcing out the ace. South then led a third diamond. He was stunned when West took the ace — and two spades. Down one.

Daily question: You hold: ? Q 9 8 5 3 ? Q 8 ? A J 2 ? 7 5 4. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two diamonds and you return to two hearts. Partner then bids two spades. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner has a strongish hand. If he had a minimum hand with three-card spade support — say KJ2, AK654, Q654, 3 — he would have raised your one spade to two spades to limit his strength. You have nine points, none “wasted” opposite partner’s club shortness. Bid four spades.

Tribune Content Agency