DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“When we were newlyweds,” a club player told me grimly, “my wife treated me like a god. Now she reverses those letters.”

He was today’s North. When his wife boldly jumped to three spades, he raised. West led the jack of hearts, winning, and another heart.

“My wife ruffed, took the A- K of trumps and led the A- K and a low club. When West won, he led a diamond, and East got two diamonds for down one. My wife said I should pass or bid 3NT at my third turn. When I took issue with that, she got mad, and last night I slept on the couch with the dog — who, by the way, she treats better than me.”

I sympathize with North. Though 3NT was always makable with astute play, South could have made four spades. She must cover the first heart with dummy’s king, and when East wins and continues hearts, South throws a club.

South can ruff the next heart high, take the A- K of trumps, cash the A- K of clubs and ruff a club. She can go to the queen of trumps to take the two good clubs. DAILY QUESTION You hold: dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. You double, and your partner responds one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner’s minimum response shows fewer than 10 points, and he may have none. Nor is his spade holding sure to be robust; he may have four low spades. Pass. If you bid two clubs, you would promise substantial extra strength: a North dealer E- W vulnerable