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Posted on Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 5 a.m.

Bridge column, August 15: If partner asks, answer correctly

By Phillip Alder

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Jessica Beth Savitch, a television broadcaster and news reporter who died in 1983, said, "A news event is like Texas weather. If you don't like it, wait a minute."

Bridge hands are like Texas weather. If you don't like yours, wait a few minutes and you will have another one. But during that time, try not to make any fatal mistakes.

Take the East hand. You have a genuine Yarborough, no card higher than a nine. Partner leads a fourth-highest heart four against three no-trump. Do you have a useful part to play? Also, do you agree with North's use of the Stayman convention to try to find a 4-4 spade fit?

Taking the second question first, I think North should respond three no-trump. With a strong doubleton, just go for no-trump. But if North had held, say, ace-queen-fourth of diamonds and a low doubleton club, using Stayman would have been recommended.

South will take the diamond finesse. If it wins, he has overtricks in his future. If it loses, maybe hearts will be 4-4 or perhaps West will not know that the suit can be run.

Here, since East cannot play a useful heart (a card higher than the eight), he must drop the two, indicating an odd number, not cover the five with his seven (which would show a doubleton).

Here, West knows East has three hearts. (If the two were a singleton, South would have four hearts, but he denied a four-card major in the auction.) So, when West gets in with the diamond king, he cashes the heart ace to drop South's king and runs the suit for down one.

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