DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

David Ben-Gurion, a former prime minister of Israel, was a fitness disciple whose regimen included time standing on his head. Some contracts might be easier to play if declarer did that.

At today’s slam, South took the ace of diamonds and cashed the A-Q of trumps. He then tried the A-Q and a third spade, but East ruffed and led a diamond to West’s queen. Down one.

“I had chances,” South said. “I’m home if spades break 3-3 or if the defender with the missing trump has four or more.”

South might have succeeded if he’d stood on his head — imagining that his own hand were dummy. He must return a diamond at Trick Two, preparing a dummy reversal. If West shifts to a trump, South wins in his hand, leads a club to dummy, ruffs the last diamond, leads a club to dummy and ruffs a club.

South next leads a trump to dummy. When East-West follow, South can ruff the last club, go to the queen of spades, draw the last trump and win the last two tricks with the A-K of spades.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ AK52 ♥ AK1093 ◆ A7 ♣ 7 2. The dealer, at your right, opens one club. You double, and your partner responds one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: You asked your partner to bid — indeed, you required him to bid unless he was able to pass for penalty. Hence his response promises neither any values nor a good suit. Bid one heart.