Bridge: April 8, 2024

Unlucky Louie gave me a ride to the club, and when we stopped at a traffic light, his car stalled. As cars behind us beeped and honked, the light cycled from green to yellow to red time and again.

Finally, a policeman pulled up.

“What’s the matter, mister?” he asked Louie. “Ain’t we got any colors you like?”

When we finally made it to the club, Louie got snarled up again, playing at today’s 3NT in a penny game. West led the queen of clubs, and Louie played low. He expected a club continuation, but West pondered … and shifted to the king of spades.

ENTRY

Louie ducked, but West next led the queen, killing dummy’s entry. Louie took the ace but won only three spades, two hearts, two diamonds and a club. (Another club would have done as well.)

Louie must win the first club, unblock his A-K of hearts and lead the A-Q of diamonds. West wins, and the defense takes three clubs, but Louie can win a spade shift with the ace and take the queen of hearts, throwing his jack of diamonds. He has nine tricks.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 10 6 2 H A K D A Q J C A 6 4 3. You open one club, your partner bids one spade, you raise to four spades and he bids five clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s cue bid of five clubs is a control-showing try for slam. He would usually have the ace, but this time he may hold a hand such as AQ973,432,432,KQ. Your trump support could be better, but since you have both red suits well controlled, to bid six spades would be reasonable.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A 5 4

H Q J 7

D 10 8 6 5 2

C 7 2

WEST

S K Q 9

H 8 4 3 2

D K 4

C Q J 10 8

EAST

S 8 7 3

H 10 9 6 5

D 9 7 3

C K 9 5

SOUTH

S J 10 6 2

H A K

D A Q J

C A 6 4 3

South West North East
1 C Pass 1 D Pass
2 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — C Q

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