“Your honor,” the district attorney stated, “we will prove that South committed a felony. He lost a cold vulnerable game.”
“Proceed,” the judge instructed, and the court kibitzed the evidence.
“Against 3NT,” the DA began, “West led the ten of clubs. South won with the jack and took the A-K of spades. When West threw a club, South went to the ace of hearts and returned a diamond to his queen. The finesse won, and when he led the ace and a third diamond, the suit broke 3-3. But then East led the jack of hearts, and the defense took three hearts, plus West’s ace of clubs and East’s queen of spades. Down two.”
BLAMELESS?
“My client is blameless,” South’s counsel roared. “East could have held the king of hearts.”
Was South guilty of a misplay?
After South takes the top spades, he can lead a low diamond. East wins and shifts to the jack of hearts: five, seven, ace. Then South can lead a diamond to his queen, take the ace and lead the king of clubs. He is sure of nine tricks.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S J 10 9 8 6 H A 4 D 4 3 C 7 6 5 2. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he jumps to three diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: A few players would have passed one heart, but the modern tendency is to scrape up a response with any excuse. Partner’s jump-shift is forcing, so to pass would be a system violation. Bid three hearts. Your ace of hearts and doubleton diamond may be all he needs to have a chance at game.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S J 10 9 8 6
H A 4
D 4 3
C 7 6 5 2
WEST
S 5
H K 7 3 2
D 7 6 2
C A 10 9 8 3
EAST
S Q 7 4 3 2
H J 10 9 6
D K J 10
C 4
SOUTH
S A K
H Q 8 5
D A Q 9 8 5
C K Q J
South West North East
2 NT Pass 3 H Pass
3 S Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — C 10
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Originally published at Frank Stewart