DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

When a Vanderbilt final match is decided by two IMPs, the players look back on decisions that would have changed the outcome. Today’s deal arose near the end with the score tied.

When Geir Helgemo-Tor Helness sat North-South for MONACO, North’s double showed clubs plus heart tolerance. North competed to six clubs, a misjudgment since five spades would have failed.

West led his diamond, and South won and led a heart. Robert Levin, West for the team led by Nick Nickell, won and led a spade. Declarer ruffed and led another heart, but East, Steve Weinstein, ruffed his partner’s ace to cash two diamonds. Down three, plus 500.

In the replay, Jeff Meckstroth-Eric Rodwell, NICKELL’s North-South, landed at six hearts doubled. If West for MONACO had led a spade, starting a forcing defense, South could have been down four.

But West unwisely led a diamond, and South was able to draw trumps and go down two. Instead of losing seven IMPs, NICKELL gained five — and won the match. DAILY QUESTION You hold:♠ 5 43 ♥ QJ ♦ 9 7 4 ♣ AQ 10 74. Your partner opens one heart, you respond 1NT, he bids two clubs and you raise to three clubs. Partner then bids four clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: All of your honors fit well with partner’s suits, hence you can accept his invitation to game. Since your heart support is as good as could be under the circumstances, bid four hearts to suggest an alternative game. Partner may hold A,A K 9 6 5, 5 3 2,K J 8 6. North dealer E-W vulnerable