DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

A reader sent in today’s deal from a duplicate game. He was North and felt guilty when South made two overtricks.

South took the king of spades, led a trump to East’s king, won the next spade with the ace and led a trump to East’s ace. East led a third spade, and South won and drew trumps.

South next let the 10 of diamonds ride, and East had to play low. South’s queen of diamonds also won, and he then cashed two more trumps. East saved the ace of diamonds and K-6 of clubs; and when South led his last diamond, East had to lead a club from the king.

Passed Hand

“Partner was a passed hand,” North wrote, “so his two hearts wasn’t forcing. But I could have tried 2NT, and we might have reached game.”

At duplicate, the goal is merely to beat the pairs who hold your cards, and few North-Souths would bid game with only 24 points. Since only nine tricks were likely at no trump, and since South played like a genius to take 10 at hearts, North-South surely got a good score.

South dealer

Neither side vulnerable

NORTH:

(spade) A K J

(heart) 9 4

(diamond) K 9 5 2

(club) Q 10 3 2

WEST:

(spade) 10 9 5

(heart) 8 3 2

(diamond) J 7 4

(club) J 9 8 4

EAST:

(spade) 7 6 4 3

(heart) A K 10

(diamond) A 8 6

(club) K 6 5

SOUTH:

(spade) Q 8 2

(heart) Q J 7 6 5

(diamond) Q 10 3

(club) A 7

SOUTH:

Pass

Redbl

(spade) 2

WEST:

Pass

Pass

All Pass

NORTH:

1 (club)

Pass

EAST:

Dbl

1 (spade)

Opening lead-- (spade) 10

2001, Tribune Media Services