Waste Makes Haste

Sam Goldwyn, the movie magnate, said he spared no expense to make things as economical as possible. Excess thrift was today’s declarer’s downfall.

South could win the first spade with the ace or by ruffing. Since to do both seemed wasteful, he made haste to discard a club from dummy. He next drew trumps and finessed with the jack of diamonds. West won, and the defense also got two clubs.

“I could throw a diamond on the ace of spades,” South said, “and lead club to the nine, hoping to set up a club in dummy for a diamond pitch. That wouldn’t work either.”

Must Ruff

South must ruff his ace of spades in dummy; he can spend the ace and a trump, but none of dummy’s minor-suit cards. He draws trumps and leads a club to the nine.

West takes the 10 and king, but if he leads a diamond next, South wins four diamond tricks. If West leads a spade, South ruffs in dummy, throws the queen of clubs, leads the jack to ruff out East’s ace and wins his 11th trick with the eight.

Daily Question

You hold: {spade} Q J 9 8 6 5 {heart} None {diamond} 7 6 3 {club} A 7 6 5. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he rebids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: I can understand if you passed before things get worse; still, I’d accept a rebid of two spades. With any luck, partner has better spade support than you have heart support. Moreover, your hand has only one sure trick at a heart contract, but he has high cards that will help at spades.

South dealer

E-W vulnerable

NORTH

{spade} None

{heart} K 10 9 7 3

{diamond} A 8 5 2

{club} J 8 4 2

WESTEAST

{spade} K 10 7 4 3 2 {spade} Q J 9 8 6 5

{heart} 8 6 {heart} None

{diamond} Q 10 9 {diamond} 7 6 3

{club} K 10 {club} A 7 6 5

SOUTH

{spade} A

{heart} A Q J 5 4 2

{diamond} K J 4

{club} Q 9 3

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

1{heart} 2{spade} 4{heart} 4{spade}

5{heart} All Pass

Opening lead--{spade} 4