FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

Experience may not help you avoid making the same mistake twice, but it may keep you from admitting it twice. At bridge, there are always new ways to err.

In today’s deal, West led a heart against four spades, and declarer took dummy’s ace and promptly led a trump. East rose with his king and shifted to his singleton diamond. South won in dummy and led a second trump, but East took the ace, led a club to West and ruffed the diamond return. Down one. Shapely

Many Souths would have lost this contract. It takes experience to foresee what may happen. Only a defensive ruff can beat four spades, but when Eastwest have competed, vulnerable, they will have shapely hands; a ruff is a live possibility.

At Trick Two, South must lead a club, breaking the defenders’ link. East can win and lead a diamond but can’t get a ruff; West no longer has an entry. South loses only to the A-K of trumps.

If an expert South went down, I suspect his comment would be, “I should have seen it.”

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ A K 10 ♥ K 9 6 5 2 ♦ 5 ♣ K 10 6 5. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. You bid one heart, the next player raises to two diamonds and two passes follow. What do you say? Answer: You overcalled one heart to get your five-card major suit mentioned. Since the opponents have stopped low, your partner is marked with a few points. Don’t sell out at the two level. Double (for takeout, though partner may occasionally pass for penalty). North dealer

Both sides vulnerable