Bridge

"I believe in rules. If there weren't any, how could you break them?" -- baseball manager Leo Durocher.

Bridge has defensive "rules" that are a poor substitute for logical thinking. In today's deal, South ruffed the third club, drew trumps and led his jack of hearts. West, following the old "rule" about covering an honor with an honor, offered his queen, and South made a hopeless contract. Dummy's ace won, and South continued hearts to force out the king and claimed the rest.

LOWER CARDS

To cover an honor is correct when you have something to gain: a chance to promote lower cards. Here, West could gain nothing and must duck the jack of hearts to prevent South from easily establishing his second suit.

When the jack wins, South leads another heart to the nine, as West plays low again. South can then cash the ace of hearts but is stuck in dummy. If he takes the ace of diamonds and ruffs a diamond with his last trump, he has won nine tricks, but the defenders take the rest.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 9 5 3 H 4 D K J 8 7 2 C A 9 8 7. Your partner opens one heart, you bid 1NT and he jumps to three hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner has shown a hand worth about 17 points with a good six-card suit. Since you have a couple of potential tricks, to bid 3NT or raise to four hearts might be right, but with no heart support, I'd pass. To resolve close decisions, look at your holding in partner's suit.

North dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S K 10 2