Bridge: Aug. 21, 2024
It’s reported that a truck loaded with Vicks VapoRub overturned, spilling its contents on a highway. Amazingly, there was no congestion for eight hours. Today’s South got all snarled up at 3NT. West led a diamond, and East took the ace (not best) and returned a diamond. Declarer won with the king, and West followed with the jack to deny that he held the queen. South then took the K-A of clubs and gave up a club. He expected a diamond return, but East led the jack of spades. South took dummy’s king and cashed three clubs, but then he could only take the ace of spades and lead a third spade. West got two spades and the ace of hearts: down one. COMMUNICATION South had nine tricks — five clubs, two diamonds, two spades — and could take them if he kept communication. At Trick Three he plays a low club from both hands. If East shifts to spades, South wins, comes to his king of clubs, cashes his queen of diamonds and returns to dummy’s second high spade to run the clubs. DAILY