“Do you ever “see cards” in the bidding” a club player asked me.

“Sure,” I said, “but trying to figure out what everybody has can be a questionable approach. Just bid your own hand.”

He showed me today’s deal.

“When West preempted in spades and my partner bid four hearts, I “saw” a singleton spade in his hand and bid slam. My crystal ball was a little cloudy.”

South took the ace of spades, cashed the ace of diamonds and drew trumps. He ruffed two diamonds in his hand, hoping the king would fall. When it didn’t, he glumly conceded two spades.

South’s visualization was poor (if North had a singleton spade, a heart fit and a good hand, he could have cue-bid three spades), but six hearts was cold. After South draws trumps, he ruffs a diamond, goes to the ace of clubs, ruffs a diamond, takes the king of clubs and ruffs a club.

South then leads the queen of diamonds, and when East’s king covers, South discards a spade. East must concede a fatal ruff-sluff.

Daily question: You hold: ? 8 6 3 2 ? K J 9 4 ? Q 10 3 2 ? A. Your partner opens one diamond, you bid one heart, he rebids two clubs and you jump to three diamonds (invitational, we will assume, in your partnership). Partner then bids three hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Your hands appear to fit perfectly. Partner indicates spade shortness, and you have no “wasted” spade honors. Bid five diamonds or cue-bid four clubs. Partner may hold 5, A 1 0 3, A K 8 7 5, K J 6 3.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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