“Santa made his list, checked it twice.

He left it at home. He’s texting his wife!”

When today’s South jumped to four hearts, West doubled and led the king of spades. Declarer ruffed triumphantly, led a club to dummy and returned a trump, finessing with his jack.

West took the queen and led another spade, and South ruffed and cashed the A-K of trumps; he had one trump left, and West had the high ten. When South next led a club, West threw a diamond. Dummy’s king won, but West ruffed the queen and led a third spade. South ruffed, but when he led a diamond, West claimed with the ace and good spades. Down three.

South forgot (1) he could expect only three losers (two trumps and a diamond), and (2) West had doubled. After South ruffs the opening lead, he takes the A-K of trumps, then forces out the ace of diamonds. He can ruff West’s spade return and take his winners, losing only to West’s Q-10 of trumps.

Unlucky Louie, Cy the Cynic and all my club members join me in wishing for my readers a holiday season of peace and joy.

Daily question: You hold: ? J 7 3 ? 6 ? Q 10 8 5 ? A K Q 6 3. Your partner opens one heart, you bid two clubs, he rebids two hearts and you try three diamonds. Partner rebids three hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Your sequence forced to game in theory, but the situation has soured. Your partner has long hearts but seems to have a minimum hand; he could have jumped to four hearts at his third turn but did not. Some of your honors may be useless. I would make a battlefield decision and pass.

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