DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

I continue a review of the American Contract Bridge League Spring Championships. Today’s East, Canada’s Fred Gitelman, is known as a programmer of fine bridge software.

At three spades, South ruffed the second club, led a heart to the king and returned the nine of spades, winning. On the next trump, Gitelman played the king, and South took the ace and led the 10 of diamonds, overtaking with dummy’s jack.

One Trick

Say Gitelman takes the queen 2001, Tribune Media Services

and leads a heart. South wins, forces out the ace of diamonds, ruffs the next heart, cashes a diamond and ruffs his last diamond with dummy’s eight of trumps. Whatever East does, he gets only one more trick; South is home.

Gitelman, though, won the first diamond with the ace. Now South won the heart return and thought he was safe: He forced out the queen of trumps, ruffed East’s heart return and drew trumps, leaving him with none.

South then led another diamond for a “proven” finesse; but Gitelman produced the queen and cashed a heart. Down one.

West dealer

E-W vulnerable

NORTH

9 8 5

(Heart) K 10 2

* K J 2

7 5 4 2

*--*

WEST EAST None K Q 7 2 (Heart) 8 5 4 3 (Heart) Q J 9 7 6 5 3 A Q 4 A K J 10 8 3 9 6

*--*

SOUTH

A J 10 6 4 3

(Heart) A 6

* 10 9 8 7

Q

*--*

 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH  3 Pass Pass 3 All Pass

*--*

Opening lead-- K

Question of the Day

You hold: K Q 7 2 (Heart) Q J 9 7 * A Q 4 9 6. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids 1NT. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: Raise to 3NT. Since partner promises minimum opening values with balanced pattern (but not with four spades), this is the game most likely to succeed. Perhaps once a year, you’ll be better off at four of a major suit on a 4-3 trump fit or at five diamonds; but those occasions aren’t worth catering to.