DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Some players remind me of the bankrupt coal baron: He couldn’t mine his own business. Some issues are issues of the partnership — but not dummy play.

At four hearts, South took the A- K of spades, ruffed a spade in dummy, cashed the king of hearts and lost a finesse with his jack. He ruffed West’s spade return, drew trumps, and led a diamond to the ace and back to his queen. West took the king, and East got the jack of diamonds and ace of clubs. Down one.

Later, North came to me, grumbling.

“My partner should take the king of spades and lead the king of clubs at Trick Two. If East wins and leads another spade, declarer wins, takes the queen of clubs, cashes the A- K of trumps, ruffs a club ( overruffing won’t help West) and ruffs a spade. He ruffs a club, goes to the ace of diamonds and discards a diamond on the fifth club. Easy.”

North was right, but there was no point in his telling me. Your partner’s dummy play is none of your concern. If you’re unhappy with it, get a new partner. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ A5♥K 6 5♦ A62 ♣ 9 8 5 4 2. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two clubs, he bids two hearts and you try 2NT. Partner next bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: In theory, you should pass. Your 2NT showed about 11 points, and partner has signed off. Still, your hand is suitable for a raise to four hearts. Your king of hearts and aces will fit well with partner’s shapely hand. He will make game if he holds KQ7 6 3, AQ9 3 2,43,3. South dealer N- S vulnerable