Bridge - August 25

I've heard many characterizations of an expert. (One is that he is someone with a field of interest so narrow he can talk about a broken little finger but not about a little toe.) There are more-or-less-serious definitions of a bridge expert. I'd say an expert never boots an easy contract.

At seven hearts, South took the ace of diamonds and, without thinking, cashed the K-Q of trumps. When East showed up with 10-9-8-6, South couldn't ruff a spade in his hand for his 13th trick; he took the king of diamonds and ruffed a diamond in dummy - and East overruffed.

LAST TRUMP

South tossed away an easy 2210 points. He must take the king and then the ace of trumps. When West discards, South cashes the top spades, ruffs a spade, takes the jack of trumps and leads a club to dummy to draw East's last trump.

If West held four trumps, South could take the king of diamonds, safely ruff his diamond loser in dummy, cash the queen of trumps and reach his hand with a spade to draw trumps.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 2 H A J 3 2 D K 7 6 C K Q 10 5. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. You double, and your partner bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: This decision is close. Though you have extra strength, your partner may be broke. He was obliged to respond to your double and promises no values. Since your kings, especially the king of spades, look well placed, a raise to three hearts is defensible.