“You know Millard worked for the IRS,” Cy the Cynic said to me. “He told me his boss advised him to have a 401K. Millard said there was no way he could run that far.”
Millard Pringle gets lost in the maze of defensive “rules.” He was today’s East, and against 3NT West led the six of spades. Dummy played the ten … and Millard paused.
“He couldn’t recall whether he should cover an honor or play third hand high or what,” Cy said. “Finally, he compromised and played the seven.”
LAST SPADE
Declarer next led a diamond, and West took the king and led his last spade. Millard captured dummy’s king and led the jack, forcing South’s queen. When Millard took the ace of diamonds, he cashed the nine and deuce for down one.
If Millard covers dummy’s ten with the jack, South can play low effectively. Then South’s eight will remain as a second stopper, and the defenders’ communication will be fatally cut. South will make 3NT.
“You were South?” I asked the Cynic.
“I was West,” he said. “For once, I wasn’t Millard’s victim.”
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S K 10 H K 5 4 D J 9 5 4 2 C A Q 4. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner overcalls one heart, and the next player passes. What do you say?
ANSWER: It pays to know your partner’s style. Is he apt to enter the auction with light hands, just to direct a lead or obstruct the opponents, or does he prefer a sounder approach? At this vulnerability, I would expect a good hand and would commit to game, starting with a cue bid of two diamonds.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S K 10
H K 5 4
D J 9 5 4 2
C A Q 4
WEST
S 6 3
H J 8 7 6 2
D K 8 3
C J 10 6
EAST
S A J 9 7 2
H 10 9
D A 6
C 9 8 7 3
SOUTH
S Q 8 5 4
H A Q 3
D Q 10 7
C K 5 2
North East South West
1 D 1 S 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead – S 6
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