Bridge

One mark of an expert declarer is the ability to give the defenders a problem.

At the ACBL Summer Championships, South was Jon Sweindal, one of many Scandinavians in attendance. (The ACBL's "Nationals" have become international.) In a matchpoint event, Sweindal played at four hearts after East's preempt. North's cue bid of four clubs suggested slam, but South had skimpy values.

West led a club, and Sweindal took the ace and had two diamonds and a club to lose; plus 420 to North-South seemed to be an inevitable result. But South led a trump to dummy and returned the jack of diamonds.

DISCARD

West took the queen and feared that declarer had the king of diamonds and would set up a diamond trick in dummy for a spade discard. If South had 2-7-2-2 pattern but the king of diamonds and no king of spades, West needed to shift to a spade -- and he did.

Sweindal took the jack and could pitch a diamond on the ace of spades. He made an overtrick for a fine matchpoint score.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 7 2 H A K 4 2 D J 10 3 C J 7 5. Your partner opens one spade, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Neither a 2NT response (if natural) nor a temporizing response in a minor suit would be descriptive. Bid two hearts. You suggest a five-card or longer suit but can afford to misdescribe your pattern here: If partner supports the hearts, you can return to spades. If he has four hearts, to play at a 4-4 fit may be best.

East dealer

E-W vulnerable

NORTH