Bridge: Aug. 10, 2024

I have written that winning bridge is a product of study and practice. (Most people can be as successful as they are determined to be.) Read quiz books on dummy play and defense to improve your card play. The only thing I would tell you not to practice is … finessing.

At today’s five diamonds, South ruffs West’s second high spade and leads a trump. East takes the ace and shifts to a low heart. The actual declarer finessed, and West’s king won the setting trick.

How do you play as declarer?

THREE LOSERS

South took what is known as a “practice finesse.” It wasn’t sure to gain even if it won. Even if East has the king of hearts, South must still pick up the clubs — presumably by finessing against East — to avoid three losers.

But if East has the queen of clubs, South can expect to discard two hearts on dummy’s long clubs. South should take the ace of hearts, cash the ace of clubs, lead a trump to dummy and try a club to his ten.

Shun those “practice finesses.”

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 6 H A 10 5 D Q J 8 6 5 3 C A K 10. You open one diamond, your partner bids one heart and the player at your right overcalls one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: In some partnerships, the correct call would be a “support” double to show three cards in hearts. (A bid of two hearts would show four.) Lacking such an agreement, bid two hearts. If the next player bids two spades and two passes follow, you can try three diamonds.

South dealer

Neither side vulnerable

NORTH

S Q 7

H Q J

D K 10 9 4

C J 8 7 4 2

WEST

S A K J 8 4

H K 8 7 4 3

D 7

C 9 5

EAST

S 10 9 5 3 2

H 9 6 2

D A 2

C Q 6 3

SOUTH

S 6

H A 10 5

D Q J 8 6 5 3

C A K 10

South West North East
1 D 1 S 2 D 3 S
5 D All Pass
Opening lead — S K

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