Bridge: Oct. 7, 2024

Attendance rose back to almost pre-COVID levels at the ACBL Summer Championships in Toronto, an excellent site and less expensive than some.

In the Life Master Pairs, Dana Berkowitz, both of whose parents are world-class players, found a good defense to saddle her opponents with a poor result. After East took advantage of the friendly vulnerability to open an atypical weak two-bid (an action I dislike, but many good players would have done the same), South overcalled two spades, and Berkowitz lifted to four hearts. North was constrained to try four spades. All passed, and Berkowitz had to pick a lead.

What would have been your choice?

Berkowitz found the only lead to give the defense a chance: a trump. Declarer played low from dummy, and East took the king and returned a trump. Declarer won in dummy and continued with a club to his king.

Berkowitz took the ace and led a low heart. When East won and led a third trump, South could pitch one heart on dummy's diamonds but still had a second heart to lose.

Down one. Well defended.

You hold: ou open one spade, and your partner responds two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: A bid of 2NT would not be a terrible action, but a raise to three hearts is better. Your partner has five or more hearts. If he had a hand such as 643,AK64,43,AQ54 or even 643,AK64,643,AQ4 he could respond two clubs, letting you bid hearts next if you held four. The auction to game (or slam) will be facilitated if you confirm a trump suit early.

West dealer

N-S vulnerable

S A 10 4

H 10

D Q J 7 4

C Q 6 5 3 2

S 9 3

H A 9 6 5

D 8 6 3

C A J 10 4

S K 8 6

H K Q 4 3 2