Bridge: Nov. 25, 2023

Unlucky Louie’s wife, Esther, had slightly rear-ended a car in front of her.

“The damage was so light we didn’t even have our car repaired,” Louie told me disgustedly. “But the other driver went to one of those personal liability attorneys, alleging that he had been injured. Our insurance company settled rather than fight in court.”

Insurance can be useful at bridge. A safety play is like an insurance policy: You pay a premium — you give up on taking the maximum number of tricks — but you are protected against a disastrous loss.

LAST TRUMP

At today’s slam, declarer takes the king of diamonds and draws trumps. If he cashes the A-K of spades next, the 5-1 split dooms him to only 11 tricks.

After South draws trumps, he should play safe by letting dummy’s ten of spades ride. When West wins and leads another diamond, South wins, takes the nine of spades, returns a club to his ace and runs the spades. He can pitch dummy’s low clubs and ruff his last club in dummy.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A K Q 5 4 H Q J 10 9 D K 7 C A 2. The dealer, at your right, opens one club. You double, and your partner bids (“advances”) one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have 19 points, but you can’t get carried away. Partner was obliged to act and may have neither any points nor decent diamonds. Bid one spade. When you double, then bid a suit, you promise at least 18 points. If you have a game, partner will bid again.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S 10 9

H A K 7 5

D A 6 5 3

C 9 6 5

WEST

S J 8 7 6 2

H 4 3

D Q J 10

C K 10 4

EAST

S 3

H 8 6 2

D 9 8 4 2

C Q J 8 7 3

SOUTH

S A K Q 5 4

H Q J 10 9

D K 7

C A 2

South West North East
1 S Pass 2 D Pass
2 H Pass 3 H Pass
4 C Pass 4 D Pass
6 H All Pass
Opening lead — D Q

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