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You’ve been called to serve on a grand jury (lucky you), investigating the result in today’s deal from a team match.
| Dlr: South | ♠ A J 9 8 5 3 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vul: N-S | ♥ Q | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 10 9 8 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ 7 | ♠ K Q 10 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♥ 10 8 7 4 | ♥ 3 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A K Q J 6 5 | ♦ 7 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♣ K 2 | ♣ 8 7 6 4 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♠ 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ A K J 9 6 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ Q J 10 9 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Opening lead — ♦K
At one table, North-South bid as shown to 4♥. South ruffed West’s second high diamond, led a trump to the queen, took the ♣A, ruffed a diamond and drew trumps. That left him with none, so when West took the ♣K, he ran the diamonds. Down two.
At the other table, the auction began the same way, but North bid 4♠ at his last turn. East led a diamond, and when West shifted to a trump, the result was down two again.
Do you hand down any indictments?
No Spades
The second North might well have passed 4♥. Would it have mattered? Maybe, because that contract was cold.
After South ruffs the second diamond, he should take the ♣A and overtake the ♥Q to cash the ace, king and jack. South then forces out the ♣K. He retains trump control and loses one trump, one club and one diamond.
Daily Question
You hold: ♠7 ♥10 8 7 4 ♦A K Q J 6 5 ♣K 2.
Your partner opens 1♣, you respond 1♦, he bids 1♠ and you try 2♥. Partner then bids 3♣. What do you say?