DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

In July, I was back in Birmingham, Ala., for another “Longest Day” game to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. The effort raised more than $ 1 million nationwide.

My partner, Gloria Kilpatrick, found a good bid as today’s North. When West jumped to two spades, Kilpatrick’s double was negative. When I rebid three hearts as South, she appreciated the value of her aces and spade singleton and raised to game.

West led a diamond, a sure singleton. I won in dummy and took the percentage play in trumps: I let the eight ride, hoping East had the ten plus the king or queen. West won and led the ace and a second spade. I won, led a club to dummy and returned a second trump: ten, jack. East got a diamond at the end, but I had 10 tricks, a fortunate result.

After West had preempted, I might have taken a different view in trumps, playing East for K- Q- x. He might have deceived me by putting up the king on the first trump.

Kind regards to my friends at the Birmingham DBC. DAILY QUESTION You hold: open one heart, your partner bids two diamonds, you rebid two hearts and he tries two spades. What do you say? ANSWER: Your two- heart rebid was conservative, though no other action was attractive. Partner’s bidding has improved your hand; he suggests long diamonds and a strong hand. Jump to four diamonds. If he holds can make a slam, and he will have a better hand than that. South dealer N- S vulnerable