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Posted on Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 5 a.m.

Bridge column, November 3: Weird bidding and weirder play

By Philip Adler

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Steven Wright, the weird comedian, said, "Is it weird in here, or is it just me?"

Is it weird in this deal, or is it just me?

It isn't just me -- this deal features some weird bidding and weird play. How do you think the auction should have gone? And once South is stuck in three no-trump, what should he do after West leads the spade jack to declarer's king?

In the given auction, West made a weak jump overcall, showing 5 to 10 high-card points and a six-card suit that would usually be stronger than the one held. North made a negative double. This was not without risk, but he had to do something with nine points. Then South, who was stuck for a useful forcing bid, shut his eyes and leapt to three no-trump.

South might have opened two clubs. Presumably West would have overcalled two spades, North would have responded three hearts, South would have rebid four diamonds, North would have raised to five diamonds, and South would have guessed whether to pass or to raise.

However, here South is in three no-trump. How can he make that? Even looking at all 52 cards, it is not obvious. Do you see the answer?

South cannot play on diamonds, because West gets his long suit established first, taking four spades and two diamonds. The solution is to play a heart to dummy's ace and continue with the heart queen, discarding declarer's remaining spade! If East plays a spade, South gets two spades, four hearts and three clubs. If the defenders abandon spades, declarer has time to set up the diamonds.

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