People who are always kicking may not have a leg to stand on. If declarer makes a beatable contract against you, don’ assume your partner is to blame.

Today’s West led a passive diamond against 3NT, and declarer won in dummy and led the eight of hearts: three, deuce, ten. He won the next diamond in dummy and led a second heart. When East’s king came up, South took the ace, led the jack to force out West’s queen and had nine tricks.

West was quick to pan his partner:

“Cover the eight of hearts with the “West said. “Declarer loses three hearts plus the A-K of spades and a club.”

True, East couldnt lose by covering a near-honor with an honor, but West wasn't blameless. When he takes the ten of hearts, he can judge to shift to a low spade (or to the king and a low spade). If East ducks the first (or second) spade, West can continue spades when he takes the queen of hearts, and the defense gets three spades and two hearts.

Pick your partner, but not to pieces.

Daily question: You hold: ? Q 9 6 3 ? 8 5 ? A Q 10 ? A 9 4 2. Your partner opens one spade, and you respond 2NT, a conventional forcing raise. He then bids three clubs. What do you say?

Answer: As an adjunct to your 2NT, partner's bid of a new suit shows a singleton there. You can tell whether you have “wasted” honors opposite his singleton. Your hand is a minimum, but your ace of clubs is working. Cue-bid three diamonds. Partner may hold A K 1 0 7 4, A Q 7, J 8 7 4, 3.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

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