Bridge: Dec. 30, 2023

Mistakes are inevitable, and resolving to avoid them is pointless. My new year’s resolution is hold the typos in my column to a minimum in 2420.

There are many types of bridge errors. Some are forgivable errors in judgment. Some are lapses in concentration. But some errors are demonstrably wrong.

Today’s North scraped up a raise to three clubs at his second turn, and South had an easy 3NT bid. West led a heart, and South took the king and saw that he had to bring in dummy’s spades. He cashed the ace and led the three.

SEVEN TRICKS

When West followed low twice, South huddled … and played the ten from dummy. East won and returned a heart, and South could win only seven tricks.

South’s play in spades was a clear error, at least as per the percentages. If the missing spades are divided 3-3, South has a complete guess. If West started with J-x-x-x, South can never play the spades for one loser. But if East has J-x, South gains by playing dummy’s queen on the second spade.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 10 9 8 7 H 10 4 D Q 4 C A J 3 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two diamonds and you return to two hearts. Partner then bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has a good hand, probably with 3-5-4-1 shape. Your preference bid of two hearts showed at most nine points, and if his hand were minimum, he would have passed. Bid four spades.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S Q 10 9 8 7

H 10 4

D Q 4

C A J 3 2

WEST

S K 6 5 2

H J 9 6 5 2

D K 5

C 8 6

EAST

S J 4

H Q 8 7 3

D A 10 7 6

C 10 9 5

SOUTH

S A 3

H A K

D J 9 8 3 2

C K Q 7 4

South West North East
1 D Pass 1 S Pass
2 C Pass 3 C Pass
3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — H 5

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