LIFE & CULTURE

Today’s South was the notorious Joe Overberry, who thinks it’s nobler to go down in pursuit of an overtrick than to make what he bid. He drives his partners batty.

Against four hearts, West led a spade in deference to East’s overcall. Joe took dummy’s ace and saw a possible overtrick: Dummy’s diamonds might furnish a discard for the queen of clubs.

So Joe drew trumps with the A-K and led a diamond to his king. On the next diamond he finessed with dummy’s ten, but East produced the jack and led a club. Joe had to finesse, and West took the king. East got his ace of diamonds and a spade for down one.

“Exactly what do you have against making a contract?” North asked with asperity.

For 10 tricks, Joe exits with a spade after he draws trumps. Say East shifts to a club. Joe takes the ace, ruffs his last spade in dummy and exits with a club. The defender who wins must break the diamonds, resolving declarer’s guess for the jack, or concede a fatal ruff-sluff.

Daily Question: You hold: & 652 h A QJ92 ( K92 $ A Q. The dealer, at your right, opens one club. What do you say?

Answer: This decision is close. To overcall one heart would be acceptable. If you are willing to treat the hand as worth 17 points -- reasonable since your queen of clubs should be worth as much as the king -- start with a double. If partner responds with one diamond or one spade, bid hearts next. If he responds one heart, raise to two hearts. by Dana Summers