DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

“Read any good books lately?” I asked as we relaxed in the club lounge.

“I finished one about skyscraper construction,” Unlucky Louie replied.

“It was riveting.”

“I bought a book about deciduous trees at a secondhand book store,” Rose offered. “All the leaves fell out.”

“I’m into one about dieting,” Cy the Cynic said. “It appeals to a wide audience.”

“I should’ve known I wouldn’t get a straight answer from you clowns,” I sighed.

Declarer’s attention wasn’t quite riveted on today’s 3NT. He played dummy’s queen on the first heart, and East won and returned a heart. South next led the J-10 of diamonds, but West played low. South then started the clubs, but when West ducked the king and queen, South took only two tricks in each suit.

After South wins Trick Two, he must force out the ace of clubs. He wins the next heart and leads a diamond to dummy’s jack. He is sure to reach dummy to take the 13th club and also wins two diamonds, two hearts and two spades.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ J85 ♥ 10762 ◆ A 65 ♣ A 7 3. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids one spade and you try 1NT. Partner then bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s bidding has suggested five spades but, since he bid diamonds first, longer diamonds. He may have no extra high-card strength. Bid four spades.