DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“I’m hanging a map of the world on my wall with colored pins to show all the places I’ve visited. But first I have to visit Alaska, the North Pole and Greenland — so I can hang the map.” — graffiti

Test your own timing in today’s deal. West leads the ten of hearts against your 3NT, and you win and cash the A-K of diamonds. Alas, the queen doesn’t fall. Indeed, West discards a heart. What next?

The actual South led a club to dummy’s ace and a spade to his queen. The finesse won, and when he continued with the ace and a low spade, the suit broke 3-3.

But South still went down: East led the jack of clubs, and the defense took three clubs, West’s ace of hearts and East’s queen of diamonds.

At Trick Four, South must lead a low spade. Say East wins and leads the jack of clubs: four, six, ace. South then leads a spade to his queen and takes the ace. He forces out the ace of hearts and has four spades and nine tricks in all, and East-West can take only four tricks.

DAILY QUESTION You hold: S 10 7 3 H A 10 9 7 4 D 3 C K 6 5 2. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens two spades (weak). Your partner doubles, and the next player bids three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner’s double promises a hand worth at least 16 points and suggests support for the unbid suits, especially the other major suit. Your hand is worth a bid of four hearts. You may not make it if partner’s hand is unsuitable, but this is your gamble to take.