Bertrand Russell wrote, "The point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it."
No wonder so few understand philosophy. At the end of a bridge deal, hopefully everyone understands what happened and why — but that is not always the case. How should this deal end? West leads a heart against the contract of three no-trump. East takes the trick with his jack and returns a low heart to dummy's ace. What should ensue after that?
South should open one no-trump — do not worry about a low doubleton somewhere. If South opens one club and North responds one spade, South has no rebid.
North's two-heart response was a transfer bid showing five-plus spades with any count. East doubled to reveal long and strong hearts. North's rebid of three no-trump promised game values with a heart stopper. Without a heart stopper, he would have cue-bid three hearts on the second round.
South has eight top tricks: one spade, one heart, three diamonds and three clubs. If the clubs are splitting 3-3, that suit will provide the ninth trick. Or perhaps the spade finesse will work. But neither of those possibilities is needed — East can be endplayed.
South takes the three top clubs, getting the bad news. Next, he cashes the diamond tricks, ending in his hand. Finally, he leads a philosophical heart 10. East takes that trick and two more in the suit, but then must lead a spade away from his king into dummy's ace-queen.
No wonder so few understand philosophy. At the end of a bridge deal, hopefully everyone understands what happened and why — but that is not always the case. How should this deal end? West leads a heart against the contract of three no-trump. East takes the trick with his jack and returns a low heart to dummy's ace. What should ensue after that?
South should open one no-trump — do not worry about a low doubleton somewhere. If South opens one club and North responds one spade, South has no rebid.
North's two-heart response was a transfer bid showing five-plus spades with any count. East doubled to reveal long and strong hearts. North's rebid of three no-trump promised game values with a heart stopper. Without a heart stopper, he would have cue-bid three hearts on the second round.
South has eight top tricks: one spade, one heart, three diamonds and three clubs. If the clubs are splitting 3-3, that suit will provide the ninth trick. Or perhaps the spade finesse will work. But neither of those possibilities is needed — East can be endplayed.
South takes the three top clubs, getting the bad news. Next, he cashes the diamond tricks, ending in his hand. Finally, he leads a philosophical heart 10. East takes that trick and two more in the suit, but then must lead a spade away from his king into dummy's ace-queen.