“If it please the court,” the district attorney stated, “we will prove that South committed a felony in that he went down at a cold slam.”

“Proceed,” the judge instructed, and the court kibitzed the evidence.

“Six spades was an odds-on contract,” the DA began, “but declarer won the first heart with the queen and drew trumps. He took three more hearts to discard the ten of clubs and next led a club for a finesse with the queen. West took the king and returned a club. South won, led a trump to dummy and tried a diamond to his queen. Down one. We ask for a directed verdict of guilty.”

“My client did nothing wrong,” South’s counsel argued. “One minor-suit finesse would win three times out of four.”

Would you convict declarer?

South was guilty. After he draws trumps, he takes only two more hearts, then leads a club from dummy to his queen. When West wins, he is end-played: He must return a club or a diamond, and declarer gets a free finesse and his 12th trick.

Daily question >> You hold: ? K 10 6 5 ? A Q J 9 ? J 6 ? 9 5 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids two clubs. What do you say?

Answer >> Partner has opening values or more, probably with support for the unbid suits. Since you have 11 useful points, cue-bid three clubs. If partner then bids a major, you will have to guess whether to bid game, but maybe he will take the pressure off by jumping to game himself.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

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