Bridge - March 16

Cy the Cynic says the function of wisdom is to keep you out of situations where you'll need it.

Today's declarer won the first club with the ace and took the A-K of trumps. The Q-J fell, but South still had work to do. He tried cashing the king of clubs and exiting with a club, but East put up the ten and switched to hearts.

West took two hearts and led a third heart. South ruffed and won a diamond finesse with the jack, but when the ace failed to drop the king, he lost a diamond.

DISCARDS

South could have succeeded after he took the ace of clubs. He could run his trumps, forcing West into losing discards. But South got into a sticky situation when he won the first club. He'd have been wise to duck, preparing an end play.

South wins the next club and cashes the top trumps and the other high club. He leads a trump to his hand, finesses with the jack of diamonds, takes the ace and exits with a diamond. West must give South his king of hearts or concede a ruff-sluff.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A K 9 8 3 H K 3 D Q 7 5 C 8 7 3. With both sides vulnerable, your partner opens one heart, and the next player overcalls one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: You'd like to defend against one spade doubled, but if your partnership uses "negative doubles," as most modern experts do, you can't double for penalty. Pass. If the next player also passes, your partner will usually be obliged to reopen with a double, and you'll pass.