DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Some people are like buttons — always popping off at the wrong time. When I watched today’s deal at the club, West led a club — East’s suit — against four spades. South played the jack from dummy and captured East’s queen with the ace.

South next led a diamond, but West took the ace and led his last club. East got the eight and king and won the setting trick with his ace of trumps.

“You blew it,” North popped off. “Duck the queen of clubs to gain time. If East shifts to hearts, you win and lead a diamond. You can set up a club discard and lose only three tricks.”

Was North’s analysis sound or was he just popping off?

North was wrong. If South ducks the first club, East can just lead another club. South can win and lead a diamond, but West takes the ace and leads a trump. (He can infer that East has the ace from the opening bid and from South’s failure to lead trumps early.) East can win and give West a club ruff for down one. Think before you pop off. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ KQ 10 5 4 ♥ AK 4 2 ♦7 ♣ A 6 3.You open one spade, your partner responds two clubs, you bid two hearts and he rebids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s bidding suggests six or seven clubs but minimum high-card values for a two-level response. Nevertheless, the ingredients for slam are present. You have winners, controls and

good trump support. Bid 4NT, Blackwood, intending to try six clubs if partner has an ace. West dealer N-S vulnerable