“I know you don’t put much faith in defensive “rules,” Unlucky Louie said to me, “but really, if there were no rules, how would we break them?”

“You don’t necessarily need to break rules,” I replied, “but you can certainly test their elasticity.”

In today’s deal, North’s jump to three clubs was invitational to game. South didn’t have much help in clubs, but he still liked his hand enough to try 3NT.

South won the first heart with the king and led the jack of clubs — and West played the king, obeying the rule of “cover an honor with an honor.” That play backfired when South let the king win.

West saw that the clubs would come in; he shifted in desperation to the king and a low spade. East took the queen and ace, but South won the next spade with the jack and claimed the rest. Making three.

It wasn’t a time for West to rely on rules. If he ducks the jack of clubs, South can get three club tricks but can’t run the whole suit. South should go down two.

Daily question: You hold: ? K 7 ? Q J 10 9 4 ? Q 5 ? K 10 8 7. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two hearts, he rebids two spades and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

Answer: Partner is likely to have six spades, four clubs and minimum values. With AQ962,7,A76,QJ65, he would have little reason to disturb 2NT. He might instead hold Q J 9 6 5 3, 3, K 9, A J 5 4. You might make four spades, but your red-suit honors are probably worthless. Bid three spades.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

Tribune Content Agency