DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

I often kibitz penny games at my club. It’s fun to watch when Ed, our best player, opposes Rose, who appreciates the game’s beauties.

Ed was declarer at 3NT, and Rose was East. North did well to raise to 2NT instead of using Stayman; Rose would have made an effective lead-directing double of a two-club bid.

West led a spade, and Rose took the ace and saw little hope in a spade return: She found the “surrounding” shift to the jack of clubs. Ed eyed that card and played low.

“If you have A-K-J-9-8,” he said, “you got me.”

West won the next club with the ace and led another spade. Ed took the queen and cashed three high hearts. He next took the A-K of diamonds, unblocking dummy’s 10-9, and led a spade to the king.

When Rose discarded, Ed had a count: Rose had held two spades, two hearts, five clubs ... and four diamonds. Ed led a diamond to his eight. Making three.

“Well done,” Rose said with her usual grace.

So it was, by both sides. DAILY QUESTION: You hold: A9 108 J76 4 K J 9 8 2. Your partner opens one diamond. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: The problem would tax a pair using “inverted” minor-suit raises, where a raise to two diamonds would be strong and a jump to three diamonds weak. In “Standard” methods, bid two diamonds. Your hand is a maximum for that action, but no option is appealing.