It amuses my friend the English professor when quotes are misattributed. For example, “There’s nothing new under the sun” sounds Shakespearean; it’s from Ecclesiastes.
Today’s declarer put all his eggs in one basket. (What’s the source of that saying?) At 3NT, he led a heart to dummy’s king at Trick Two and passed the jack of clubs. When West won to continue spades, South was sunk. He had only eight tricks, and when East took the ace of diamonds, the defense ran the spades.
LEAKY
South had only one basket, and it was leaky. He must lead a diamond from dummy at Trick Three. When East’s ace appears, South has four diamonds, two spades, two hearts and one club.
If East played a low diamond and South’s queen won, South could shift to clubs for nine tricks. And if West had the ace of diamonds, South would succeed if dummy’s king dropped the jack or the club finesse won.
“It is the part of a wise man to not venture all his eggs in one basket” is from Cervantes’ “Don Quixote.”
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A Q H A 5 4 D Q 8 4 C A Q 9 8 2. You open one club, your partner bids one spade, you jump to 2NT and
he tries three diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: Partner appears to have doubts about notrump (or perhaps whether you should stop at game). I would be reluctant to insist on 3NT with only a single and primary heart stopper. Bid three spades, treating your doubleton A-Q as three-card support. Partner can always go back to 3NT.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 7 4
H K 7
D K 10 6 5 2
C J 10 7 4
WEST
S J 8 6 2
H J 9 2
D J 9 7 3
C K 6
EAST
S K 10 9 5 3
H Q 10 8 6 3
D A
C 5 3
SOUTH
S A Q
H A 5 4
D Q 8 4
C A Q 9 8 2
South West North East
1 C Pass 1 D Pass
2 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 2
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Source:: The Mercury News