DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Cy the Cynic says that nowadays, three correct guesses qualify somebody as an expert. Today’s declarer didn’t make even one.

When East-West stopped low, North balanced with a double. West would have gone down one at two spades, but neither North nor South could have known that. South duly took out to three clubs, and all passed.

West led a low heart: four, queen, king. Declarer had two spades and two diamonds to lose; he had to pick up the trump suit. He led to the ace and finessed with his jack, but when West won, South wound up down one.

“Sorry,” South apologized. “I misguessed.”

What do you think of his “misguess”?

East was marked with the king of spades; if West had the A-K, his opening lead would have been a high spade. East also held a diamond honor, else West would have led a high diamond. And East had shown the queen of hearts. To have an opening bid, West needed the queen of clubs. South should have taken the A-K instead of finessing.

DAILY QUESTION:

You hold: ♠ 10 3 ♥ KJ2 ◆ 732 ♣ K J 4 3 2. Your partner opens one spade, you respond 1NT and he bids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: To pass might be a winning action. Partner might have a minimum hand with five cards in each major. Still, he could have as many as 18 points, so game is still possible. Your correct call is a “false preference” of two spades.