DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Cy the Cynic says the most common misstatement may be “The check is in the mail,” but “You don’t need to write that down; I’ll remember it” runs a close second.

At bridge, memory aids — such as writing down the cards as they are played — are forbidden, but some players might find them helpful. Against today’s five diamonds, East took two high clubs and led a trump. South drew trumps and tried to place the queen of spades. Playing East, who had bid, for that card, South led a spade from dummy to his jack. Down one.

“Get a count of the distribution and you won’t go wrong,” North remarked.

“I can’t remember all that stuff,” South growled.

After South draws trumps, he takes the top hearts, ruffs a heart, ruffs his last club in dummy and ruffs a heart. He finds that West had two clubs, two trumps and three hearts, hence six spades. So South’s spade guess becomes a sure thing.

Counting requires practice and focus but is simple in principle. Anyone can do it.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ AJ3 ♥ 72 ♦ AKJ104 ♣ 8 4 3. You open one diamond, your partner bids one spade, you raise to two spades and he tries 2NT. What do you say?

Answer: This is a tough guess. To pass or, if the cards lie well, to raise to 3NT might be a winning action. Since you have no strength in either unbid suit, to bid three diamonds — suggesting five or six diamonds, only three spades and a minimum hand — would be the choice of many experts. South dealer

Both sides vulnerable