DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

“I’ve begged and threatened. She’s as obstinate as death.”

Dr. Ed Fitch, the ophthalmologist who presides over my club, was speaking of our senior member Minnie Bottoms. She wears ancient bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay.

“I offered her new glasses for free,” Ed said. “She says her old ones are fine.”

In a team match, Minnie was declarer at six diamonds. At the other table, declarer won the trump lead and immediately tried a spade to dummy’s jack. East took the queen and returned a trump, and no matter how South proceeded, he could win only 11 tricks.

“Minnie took the ace of hearts at Trick Two,” Ed told me, “ruffed a heart and ‘cashed’ the jack of spades!”

“Thinking it was the king,” I laughed.

“East won and returned a trump,” Ed said. “Minnie won, ruffed a heart, took the A-K of clubs, ruffed a club, drew the last trump and ran the spades. Making six.”

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ 753 ♥ A852 ◆ A KQ2 ♣ 7 3. You open one diamond, the next player bids one spade, your partner doubles and the player at your right raises to two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s double showed enough values to respond with hearts plus clubs or diamond support. Since you have a sound minimum with no wasted honors in spades, you should compete. Bid three hearts. It’s likely that both two spades and three hearts are makable.