DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Today’s South got to a bold game. He had a chance when West led the king of diamonds — a trump or club would have beaten the contract — but South didn’t attend to the play.

South took the ace of diamonds, ruffed a diamond in dummy, led a spade to his queen and ruffed his last diamond. Fine — but declarer then led a club, a play that would portend trouble.

East rose with the ace and led a fourth diamond. South ruffed, but West threw his last spade, and when East took the ace of trumps, he gave West a spade ruff. The king of trumps also scored, so EastWest could extend their thanks for being plus 100 points, not minus 620.

“I don’t pretend to understand why you went down,” North growled.

“I certainly didn’t intend to,” South said indignantly.

I contend that South needed someone to superintend his play. Before he leads a club from dummy, South must cash a second high spade. Then East-West get only two trumps and the ace of clubs.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ Q2 ♥ Q109865 ◆ AJ3 ♣ K 2. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: This is a judgment call. If you judge that the hand is worth only an invitation to game, bid three hearts or 2NT to invite. If you judge to force to game, bid 3NT or try a “fourthsuit” bid of two diamonds to get more information from partner.