FRANK STEWART BRIDGE
WITH TANYA VAN JAARSVELDT CROSSWORDS@INL.CO.ZA
PARTNERSHIP ISSUES
“I read somewhere,” Cy the Cynic told me, “that a whale can attract a partner in 15 minutes. I’ve been trying to find one for five years.”
Cy has gone through a host of partnerships. Like many players, all he wants is a partner who does everything right. Cy was East in today’s deal in a penny game, and against 3NT, West led the jack of clubs, won by dummy’s ace. Declarer next led a diamond: deuce from the Cynic, jack from South ... and West took the ace.
13th Diamond
South won the next club and led a second diamond to his ten. He cashed the king, led a club to dummy and took the 13th diamond for his sixth trick. He still had the A-K of spades and ace of hearts, so he made 3NT.
Cy was upset with his partner — not for the first time.
“Duck the first diamond,” Cy complained, “and he goes down.”
Cy was right, and the winning defense was not difficult. Still, I wish Cy had to sit across from himself for a few afternoons. He might be more tolerant of his partner’s errors.
Daily Question
You hold: ♠ 10 9 3 ♥ K 87 ♦ A 7 4 ♣ J 10 9 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you bid 1NT and he jumps to three diamonds. What do you say?
Answer: Partner’s jump-rebid suggests about 16 high-card points with a good six-card suit. If he has a hand such as A
2, 6 5 2, K Q 9 8 5 3, A K, you will be a big favorite to make 3NT. If he has 2, A 3 2, K Q J 9 5 3, A Q 5, you need to play at five diamonds. Bid three hearts, suggesting a heart stopper and game interest, and await his reaction.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
THE XFILES
en-za
2021-10-15T07:00:00.0000000Z
2021-10-15T07:00:00.0000000Z
https://pretorianews.pressreader.com/article/282346862995656
African News Agency