Whom do you Trust?


frs1016@centurylink.net
Cy the Cynic says there sure aren’t as many banks with “Trust” in their name as there used to be.
When Cy played at today’s 6NT, West led the 10 and East took the king and returned a diamond. Cy won with the jack and had three spade tricks, three hearts and three diamonds. He needed three clubs.
Cy led a spade to dummy and returned a club: five, queen … eight from West. The Cynic eyed that card suspiciously but finally decided the eight was a true card. He went to dummy and led the ♣J, hoping to pin the 10. But East’s king covered, and when West produced the four, Cy went down.

Dlr: South ♠ A K 10
Vul: Both Q 5
A 6 3 2
♣ J 9 6 2
♠ 8 7 43 ♠ 9 6 2
J 4 9 8 7 6 3 2
10 9 8 7 K 4
♣ 10 8 4 ♣ K 5
♠ Q J 5
A K 10
Q J 5
♣ A Q 7 3
South West North East
1♣ Pass 1 Pass
2NT Pass 6NT All Pass

Opening lead — 10

False Card

West found a good falsecard, but Cy shouldn’t have trusted an opponent. After the Cynic’s ♣Q wins, he can take his heart winners, the Q, two more spades and the A.
Cy will find that East had six hearts, two diamonds and three spades, so at most two clubs. Cy can then lead low to his ♣A, knowing the king will fall.

Daily Question

You hold:
♠ 9 6 2
9 8 7 6 3 2
K 4
♣ K 5
Your partner opens 1, you bid 1 and he jumps to 3♣. What do you say?

ANSWER
Opener’s jump-shift is forcing to game, so you must act. To try 3 would be reasonable, but some players would be averse to rebidding such a mangy suit. Bid 3. Your hand is not hopeless; you have useful honors in partner’s suits. If he bids 3NT next, wish him luck.