DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the daywatch out of Bunco. The boss is Capt. Stewart. My partner’s Bill Gannon. He’s a good player. My name’s Friday.

We got a call about a scam at a club in Ventura. We checked it out. The suspect was still playing. One of his opponents spoke with us.

“It was terrible, officer. Terrible.”

“Just the facts, ma’am.” “I’ll give you the facts. That man sitting West conned my partner out of a cold slam. He led the king of hearts, and my partner took the ace and led a trump to her queen — and West played low!

“Naturally, declarer went back to dummy with the ace of diamonds and led a second trump to her jack. This time West won and led a heart. My partner ruffed and drew trumps, but she couldn’t get back to dummy for a club finesse. Down one.

“The man’s a con artist. Cuff him!”

We arrested West for perpetrating a slam scam. At trial, the judge said he wished he could defend as well.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ 83 ♥ A42 ◆ A 8743 ♣ 8 4 3. Your partner opens one spade, you respond 1NT, he bids two hearts and you return to two spades. Partner then bids three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have only eight points, but they consist of aces, including one in partner’s second suit. Your two-spade preference did not promise better support than you have. Bid four spades.