DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

When the United States won the 2017 Bermuda Bowl — the World Open Teams — defeating France 278 to 276 in the final match, the U. S. survived many misjudgments.

In today’s deal from the final, both North- South pairs got to four hearts, and West led the seven of spades. Both declarers diagnosed the lead as a singleton; they won with dummy’s ace to lead a trump from dummy. East followed with the deuce.

The U. S. declarer put up his king, inferring that East had the ace as part of his opening bid. That was the wrong inference to draw: West won, led a diamond to East’s ace and ruffed the spade return, and East’s queen of trumps won the setting trick.

At the other table, South for France played his ten on the first trump lead. He correctly inferred that if East had the ace, he might have risen with it at Trick Two to give his partner a spade ruff.

West took the ace, led a diamond to East’s ace and got a spade ruff, but declarer took the rest, giving France 12 IMPs. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ A 10 8 3 2 ♥ J 7 3 ♦ 6 4 ♣ Q J 6. Neither side vulnerable. Your partner opens one heart, and the next player bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: You can probably defeat one spade, but it’s wrong in principle to go “headhunting” — to try for a penalty while concealing support for your partner’s suit and neglecting to investigate your side’s potential on offense. Bid two hearts. For all you know, you have a slam. East dealer Both sides vulnerable