LIFE & CULTURE

I think most would agree (except maybe the retailers) that Christmas is too commercial. Cy the Cynic says it’s become like a baby shower gone totally overboard.

Today’s North-South displayed some of the same self-indulgence by overbidding their cards. South opened 2NT, supposedly showing 20 or 21 points. North drove to slam when he might have invited. (When both hands have balanced pattern, 33 points are often too few to make 6NT.)

South won the first heart in his hand, led a club to dummy’s queen and returned a club: four, ten, ace. He won the next heart and cashed four spades and his ace of diamonds. At Trick 10, he took the king of clubs, pitching dummy’s last heart.

East, with room for three cards, was squeezed. Whether he threw his last heart or a diamond, South would get a 12th trick.

It’s too bad that South’s overbidding wasn’t punished. If West ducks the second round of clubs, he stops South from “rectifying the count” for the “simple” squeeze, but South can still succeed by squeezing East “without the count.”

Daily Question: You hold: & KJ62h K73 ( K632 $ Q 7. Your partner opens one club, you bid one spade and he raises to two spades. What do you say?

Answer: Much depends on partner’s style. If he avoids opening lightish hands and always has four-card support to raise your major-suit response, you can bid four spades. Otherwise, you may do well to settle for an invitational sequence. Bid 2NT. Partner will have options, and you may reach your best contract. by Dana Summers