You can't be a mental tourist at the bridge table. Don't let your mind wander; concentration is half the game.
In today's deal, dummy played low on the first heart, East played the deuce, and South won with the ace and led a diamond. West played "second hand low"; and when the king won, South claimed five spades, three hearts and a diamond.
"Only a mind-reader would beat it," West shrugged.
"If you consulted a mind-reader," East grumbled, "he'd charge you half price."
West must pay close attention to beat the contract. He can place South with the king of hearts: if South had only the ace, he'd put up dummy's queen at the first trick as the only chance to win a trick with it. West can also give South the king of spades: if South had, say, 10-x of spades, he'd first attack spades, his best suit, not diamonds.
Since West can therefore see nine probable tricks for South, West should rise with the ace of diamonds and lead a low club as his only chance.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 8 4 H J 10 9 7 D A 8 3 C A Q 8 3. With both sides vulnerable, your partner opens one spade, you respond two clubs and he then bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: Bid four hearts. You have only 11 points in high cards, but aces, a possibly useful queen and good intermediates in hearts. Moreover, your side is vulnerable; hence you have more to gain than to lose by bidding an aggressive game.
North-South vulnerable
NORTH
S A Q J 9 5
H Q 4
D K J 5
C 10 6 2
WEST
S 8 4
H J 10 9 7
D A 8 3
C A Q 8 3
EAST
S 7 6 2
H 8 5 2
D 10 7 6 2
C K 7 4
SOUTH
S K 10 3
H A K 6 3
D Q 9 4
C J 9 5
South West North East
1 C Pass 1 S Pass
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead -- H J
(C) 1999, Los Angeles Times Syndicate