DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

“This deal caused a fuss in a team match,” a fan writes. “At my table, South opened one heart and played four hearts. I led my queen of diamonds, and he took the K-A and ruffed a diamond in dummy. He lost a trump, a club and a spade.

“That result seemed normal, but in the replay my teammate as South opened 1NT and played 3NT. West led the queen of diamonds, and declarer took the ace and forced out the ace of hearts.

“South won East’s diamond return and had eight tricks. When he finessed in clubs, West won and took three diamonds.

“I think opening 1NT was wrong. North-South missed the heart fit. What say you?”

I don’t know, nor does anyone. Sometimes it pays to suppress a fivecard major to open 1NT, sometimes not. The only error was South’s play. He must win the first diamond in dummy and finesse in clubs, dislodging West’s entry before the diamonds are good. South ducks the diamond return, wins the third diamond and leads a heart. He is safe when East has the ace.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ A1032 ♥ Q94

◆ K4 ♣ J 10 6 4. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids 1NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: Bid two hearts. Partner should expect about 10 points and game interest. With six to nine points and heart support, you would raise directly to two hearts. If his second bid had been two of a minor, you would bid three hearts to invite game.