Bridge: Aug. 3, 2024

You can often overcome a misjudgment in the bidding; you may survive a slight imperfection in the play. But if you goof up both ways, you had better be lucky.

In today’s deal, South would have done better to let North play at 3NT. South had semibalanced pattern and six heart tricks to contribute. Against the ill-considered four hearts, West led the queen of diamonds. Declarer covered the second diamond with the king, ruffed the third diamond and led a spade to finesse with dummy’s queen.

East took the king and led a trump. South drew trumps and took the A-J of spades to pitch a club, but he still had a club to lose. Down one.

MISPLAY

After South ruffs the third diamond, he can draw trumps and let the eight of clubs ride. East wins and leads a fourth diamond, and South ruffs and passes the jack of clubs. He wins three club tricks, six trumps and a spade.

South would have survived if West had the king of spades: a 50 percent chance. The correct play wins if West has either club honor: about 75 percent.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 10 8 4 H 7 5 2 D A 9 8 4 C Q 5. Your partner opens one club, and the next player bids one heart. What do you say?

ANSWER: I believe learning players should use a minimum of conventions, but negative doubles are essential. A double here shows enough strength to respond, with four cards in spades plus diamond length or club support. A bid of one spade would show five or more. Discuss negative doubles with your partner.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A Q J 3

H 9 3

D K 7 2

C A 10 9 4

WEST

S 9 6 2

H 6 4

D Q J 10 5

C K 7 6 3

EAST

S K 10 8 4

H 7 5 2

D A 9 8 4

C Q 5

SOUTH

S 7 5

H A K Q J 10 8

D 6 3

C J 8 2

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

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