With the expense of attending a 10-day “Nationals” prohibitive for many ACBL members, attendance at the Spring NABC in Memphis was down somewhat.

In today’s deal from an Open Pairs, many Souths opened four spades as dealer. That action looks questionable to me; North would pass with many hands that would make six spades a good spot. Moreover, since South held length in the “boss” suit, he could exert some control over the auction.

East couldn’t have been hopeful of scoring his bare king of trumps, but the king served a purpose. When West led the king of diamonds, East overtook with the ace and returned a diamond, and when West won and led a third diamond, East ruffed with his king. South had to spend his ace to overruff, and West’s ten was promoted for a third defensive trick.

I would have hoped that in a major event, that result would have been duplicated at most tables, but in fact East-West scored well a 66 percent result for finding their “uppercut” and holding South to plus 420. Many Souths made an overtrick. One took 13 tricks; I hope I never learn how that happened.

Daily question >> You hold: ? 3 ? A 8 5 3 ? J 5 2 ? A Q 9 8 6. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two clubs, he rebids two spades and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three diamonds. What do you say?

Answer >> This situation is awkward. Partner suggests six spades, four diamonds and minimum opening strength. Depending on the quality of his suits, either to pass or return to three spades might be best. To insist on 3NT would be a breach of discipline. (In a game-forcing two-over-one style, you first bid would have been 1NT, forcing.)

South dealer

E-W vulnerable

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