DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

It had been a while since the player we call Secondhand Rose had darkened the door of my club. When the lesson about “second hand low” on defense was taught, Rose must have been out on a date with Jiggs the plumber.

Rose was today’s East, and South played at four spades after West doubled his one-spade bid for takeout. West led the queen of hearts. After dummy’s ace won, South led the 10 of trumps, pretending he was about to try a finesse. And Secondhand Rose ... with the ace!

Rose then led a diamond, and West took the queen and ace and also got his ace of clubs.

South makes game if Rose plays “second hand low” on the first trump. South will win in his hand and pitch a diamond from dummy on the king of hearts, avoiding a second diamond loser.

Rose’s play was clear in retrospect. West’s opening lead marked South with the king of hearts, and a discard was impending. But many Easts would have feared that West had a singleton king or queen in trumps.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ 9 ♥ QJ1086 ◆ A Q72 ♣ A Q 2. You open one heart, and your partner raises to two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your hand isn’t promising enough to bid four hearts, but since a well-fitting hand for your partner will make game, you must try to get there. Bid three diamonds, asking him to judge based primarily on whether he has help for your second suit.