Procrastination Pays


frs1016@centurylink.net
Unlucky Louie is a busy man: He has a big family, business interests and hobbies aside from bridge. Yet he shows up at my club on most days.
“I don’t see how you cram it all into one life,” I said.
“The only thing I can seem to find time for,” Louie admitted, “is procrastination.”
Louie would do well to procrastinate as declarer. He plays first and thinks later. Against today’s 4, West led the K-A and a low diamond, and Louie ruffed East’s 10 and promptly took the A-K of trumps. When West discarded, Louie was doomed: He lost a trump to East’s queen plus a spade.
How would you handle the contract?

Dlr: North ♠ K 10 6
Vul: Both K J 7 6
9 5 4 2
♣ A K
♠ Q J 9 3 ♠ 7 5 2
4 Q 3 2
A K J 6 10 7 3
♣ 7 6 4 3 ♣ Q 9 8 2
♠ A 8 4
A 10 9 8 5
Q 8
♣ J 10 5
North East South West
1 Pass 1 Pass
2 Pass 4 All Pass

Opening lead — K

Club Ruff

South makes 4 if he procrastinates in trumps. After he ruffs the third diamond, he can take the ♣A K and ♠K A, ruff his last club and ruff dummy’s last diamond. At the 10th trick, South exits with a spade.
Both dummy and declarer are left with three trumps, and with a defender to lead, declarer is sure to win the rest.

Daily Question

You hold:
♠ K 10 6
K J 7 6
9 5 4 2
♣ A K
You open 1, your partner responds1♠, you bid 1NT and he tries 2. What do you say?

ANSWER
In “Standard” methods, partner’s two hearts is not forcing or encouraging, but since you have so many working cards, game is possible. He may have
♠ A J 7 5 4
A 10 5 4
3
♣ 8 7 6
Bid 3. Most experienced partnerships have bidding methods that better handle situations such as this.