DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

My friend the English professor says that a plateau is the highest form of flattery. If I were North in today’s deal, I would surely compliment my partner if he made the contract.

West led a trump. Many NorthSouths would have employed a “transfer” response to 1NT, making North declarer at four hearts. That would have lost in today’s layout since East would have led a fatal queen of diamonds.

If South had drawn trumps and lost a club finesse, he would have gone down, losing three diamonds as well. But South saw the necessity to keep East from getting the lead, so South won the first trump in dummy and led a spade: three, nine (!), queen.

South won the next trump, took the king of spades, led a club to dummy’s ace and discarded his last club on the ace of spades. He next led the queen of clubs for a ruffing finesse.

When East’s king covered, South ruffed, led a trump to dummy and threw two diamonds on the good clubs. Making five, and flat-out well played.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ Q752 ♥ 75 ♦ A973 ♣ 8 6 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, you respond one spade and he raises to three spades, What do you say?

Answer: Your partner has a huge hand. He has undertaken a nine-trick contract, and for all he knows, you have no points and four low spades. Bid four spades and expect to make it easily. In a situation like this, don’t focus on your hand’s weakness; imagine how much worse it might be. North dealer

Both sides vulnerable