DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

When the United States ( Fleisher- Martel, Grue- Moss, Pszczola- Rosenberg) won the 2017 Bermuda Bowl, Michael Rosenberg bolstered his reputation as one of the world’s best declarers.

In today’s deal from the final against France, Rosenberg played at four spades. ( North’s double was “negative”; his raise to four spades showed confidence in his partner’s ability to cope with a 4- 3 trump fit.) West led K- A and a third heart.

In similar situations, when maintaining trump control is an issue, declarer often discards a loser to preserve his trump length instead of ruffing. Here, he could pitch a diamond, draw trumps later and try to guess the queen of diamonds for the contract.

Rosenberg proved that play unnecessary. He ruffed the third heart, took the A- K of diamonds and A- K of clubs, and exited with a diamond. East won and led a trump, but Rosenberg won ... and took the last four tricks with a crossruff.

Well done! In the replay, North- South wandered into 3NT, down one. DAILY QUESTION You hold: at your right, opens one heart. You double, and your partner bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: To get carried away would be easy, but you must recall that partner had to respond to your double regardless of his strength. Since your queen of hearts may be worthless for offense, your hand is not much stronger than your double promised. Raise to two spades but do no more. South dealer Neither side vulnerable