DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

My friend the English professor likes to coin new words. He defines the “bozone layer” as what surrounds dull people and keeps new ideas from penetrating.

“And it won’t break down any time soon,” the prof says.

He was today’s North. Against four spades, West led the king of diamonds and then the king of clubs. South took the ace and led the queen of trumps and a trump to his jack. He next led his deuce of hearts to dummy’s jack and picked up the trumps with another finesse, but West saved his hearts. South couldn’t get four heart tricks — the suit was blocked — so he lost two clubs and two diamonds.

Great result:“That will be a superb result, partner,” the prof growled.

“Sarchasm,” he whispered to me: “the gulf between sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.”

South must lead his queen of hearts to dummy’s king at Trick Five. After he draws trumps, he takes the ace and leads a heart to the nine (playing West for 10-x-x-x due to his double) to make the game.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ 8 ♥ 10765 ♦ AK J4 ♣ K Q 10 5. You are the dealer. What call do you make?

Answer: Expert opinion would vary. Many would open one diamond and bid two clubs next over the likely response of one spade. My preference would be to open one club and then bid 1NT. I would not want to treat the hand as a diamond-club two-suiter with two four-card suits. If partner’s hand is A 7 5 4 2, A 9 4 3, 3 2, 3 2, I will reach a heart contract. South dealer

N-S vulnerable