DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.” — graffiti

Today’s North-South bid to 3NT as if it were their last day on Earth. South’s three clubs to try for game was slightly bold. When he bid 3NT, he was living on the edge — or beyond.

South took the ace of hearts and led a club to his king, winning. He next tried a spade to dummy’s jack. East won and returned a heart, forcing out the king, and the defenders were sure of five tricks before South had nine.

After his king of clubs wins, South should go to the ace of diamonds to lead a second club. East takes the ace, and the defense cashes three diamonds, but South wins the heart return, unblocks the queen of clubs and goes to the ace of spades to run the clubs. He has nine tricks.

It looks as if South is living on the edge by spending the ace of diamonds, but if he uses the ace of spades as an entry to lead the second club from dummy, East can win and lead a diamond effectively.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ K986 ♥ K107

♦ 875 ♣ K Q 9. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids 1NT. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: All you need to do is bid two hearts. Partner should treat that call as invitational to game, showing 10 or 11 points. You clearly have true heart support, and if you had six to nine points, you would have raised directly to two hearts. A jump to three hearts now would be forcing. North dealer

Both sides vulnerable