DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Cy the Cynic says that the most important leg of a three-legged chair is the one that is missing. When you must solve a problem in declarer play, the most important piece of information may be the one you don’t have.

North-South reached six hearts after both players bid aggressively. When West led the jack of spades, South ruffed, led a diamond to dummy and returned the 10 of trumps for a finesse. West’s king won, and East had to get his ace of clubs for down one.

Did South boot the slam? How would you play?

South needed more information: At the second trick he should lead a club to dummy’s king. When East takes the ace, South can infer that West has the king of trumps. West’s opening lead marks East with the A-Q of spades, and East didn’t open bidding.

So South should win the club return, go to dummy to lead the queen of trumps (just in case), but put up his ace when East follows low. South’s luck is in, and the slam comes home.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ AQ86 ♥ 764

◆ 975 ♣ A 10 7. Your partner opens one heart. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: This decision is close. If you judge that the hand is worth only a single raise, bid two hearts. If you judge it too strong, temporize with a one-spade response. I would raise to two hearts with A 8 6 2, 7 6 4, Q 7 5, A 8 7, but the actual hand is stronger: The queen of spades is bolstered by the ace. Bid one spade.