DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

At the Fall NABC, South was a high- ranking expert. East’s 3NT showed a long, solid minor. South bid as if desperate to be declarer.

At five spades, South ruffed the opening club lead and took the A- K of trumps with a happy result. He led the nine of diamonds to the queen, ruffed a club and led the six of diamonds: three, eight(!).

Declarer then ruffed the last club, led to a high diamond and drew trumps with the eight. He won four diamonds, three trumps and three club ruffs and also a heart trick.

South’s imaginative and winning play was questionable in theory. On the second diamond, West could have inserted his ten(!) to kill a vital entry. South’s legitimate chance was to play West for four diamonds. After ruffing a second club, South could cash three more diamonds, ruff the last club and lead a heart.

If South wanted to play West for 3- 5- 3- 2 shape, he could just draw trumps, ruff a second club and later try to end- play West in hearts to get two tricks there. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠A K J 9 3 ♥K Q 9 5 ♦ A J 9 6 ♣ None. You open one spade, and your partner bids 1NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: Though your partner’s hand may be quite weak, jump- shift to three hearts, game- forcing. True, you have no assurance of a trump fit, and if your luck is as bad as mine, partner will have lots of clubs and no tolerance for any of your suits. But you can be only so pessimistic. Even slam is possible if his hand is suitable. West dealer N- S vulnerable