Bridge Play

My friend known to all as Second Hand Rose played at the club today. When the lesson about “second hand low” was taught, Rose was out on a date with Jiggs the plumber.

In a team match, both Souths played at four hearts. North’s jump to three hearts invited game. West led the king of clubs, and both declarers took dummy’s ace and casually led a diamond.

At one table, East played the nine. South took his ace, drew trumps, ruffed dummy’s last club and exited with a diamond. When East won, he had to lead a club, conceding a ruff-sluff, or a spade from his jack. South had only two more losers, making four.

You hold: Q 10 3 K 10 7 5 2 652 A 5. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Your hand is slightly too weak for a forward-going second bid of 2NT, and a rebid of two hearts would suggest weakness but a longer or at least a much more robust suit. Bid two diamonds. Maybe partner will bid again, but the contract will be playable if he must pass.