With one board left in the third quarter of the Vanderbilt Teams final at the ACBL Spring Championships, Marty FLEISHER’s team had maintained a halftime lead over Jeffrey WOLFSON. The WOLFSON sextet still had some hope, but today’s deal virtually ended their chances.

When FLEISHER’s pair sat North-South, North’s opening bid of one club was conventional, and East took the opportunity to preempt with three clubs. After two passes, North reopened with a double, and when South took out to three spades, North raised, an action that seems unclear; South might have had nothing.

Preempts can turn and bite, and East’s three clubs came to grief when West led the ace of clubs. He shifted to a low heart: king, ace. East returned the nine to dummy. Declarer drew trumps and took the ace of diamonds and king of clubs. He led a second diamond, and when West followed low, declarer played dummy’s nine.

East won but was end-played. He had only clubs left to lead, and declarer ruffed and pitched dummy’s last heart, making his game. At the other table, four spades failed by two tricks, 13 IMPs to FLEISHER. They led by 55 IMPs and won in the end by 39.

Daily question >> You hold: ? 10 9 8 ? J 10 7 4 3 ? J 6 5 ? A 2. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer >> I would say “enough.” Partner has fewer than 19 points he did not jump-shift and your game chances are all but nil. A non-jump change of suit by the opening bidder is not forcing. One spade may not be the contract of your dreams, but you may escape with a plus score, and no other action is attractive.

North dealer

Both sides vulnerable

Tribune Content Agency