DAILY EXCERCISE

When I read the daily bridge problem, I first look at the North-South hands, mentally bid them, then compare to my bidding to the bidding shown.  After that I mentally play the hand.  This is always easier when I can see the defense, so I really play well.

NORTH
S) K J 3
H) 7
D) J 6 5 3
C) A K J 9 3

South opened 1 spade, North returned 2 clubs.  Next South called 2 hearts and North now showed his second suit - 3 diamonds.  Being unable to support either clubs or diamonds, or perhaps simply not wanting to support a minor, North followed South’s 3 diamonds with 3 Notrump, after which South raised spades to four. 
 

Before I proceeded to the play, I though to myself: “I do not like this bidding.  Surely the editor would not let this go without comment.”  But after I read the entire article, I had to eat my negative thoughts.  It turned out the editor did not like the bidding either.  More important, the defense loved it.
 

You see, North quite cleverly bid out his shape: 5-4-3-1.  Then an alert defender led trump to reduce dummy’s ruffing power, and that was enough to sink the contract.  Here was the full deal.

                                     NORTH
                                     S) K J 3
                                     H) 7
                                     D) J 6 5 3
                                     C) A K J 9 3
WEST                                                            EAST
S) 6 4 2                                                          S) 10 5
H) A J 8 6 2                                                    H) K 9 4
D) 10 9 7                                                        D) K Q 8 2
C) 5 4                                                             C) Q 10 7 6
                                    SOUTH
                                    S) A Q 9 8 7
                                    H) Q 10 5 3
                                    D) A 4
                                    C) 8 2

West led a trump.  South quickly gave up a diamond hoping to ruff two diamonds, but West came up with his ace and led another trump.  Thus South could take but nine tricks.

 

WATCH WHAT YOU WISH FOR

A bridge game led to an argument.  As they drove past a farmyard of mules on the way home, the husband said sarcastically “relatives of yours?”  The wife replied “Yep, in-laws.”