DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

My friend the English professor complains that his students pay no attention to his lectures.

“A professor,” the prof says, “is best defined as someone who talks in other people’s sleep.”

A good defensive signal won’t help if your partner is snoozing. In today’s deal, West led the king of clubs against four spades, and East played the queen. Thus encouraged, West continued with the ace and a third club.

South ruffed, drew trumps and let the ten of diamonds ride. East won and led a heart, but South took his ace and threw his queen on the good diamonds.

East’s queen of clubs sent a message — it showed possession of the jack — but West was asleep at the nonswitch. If West is awake, he will continue with the eight of clubs. East wins and leads a heart, and South goes down.

If East had Q-x in clubs, he would be obliged to follow low to the first club. Then the defense might go wrong, but perhaps West would see no reason not to go on and take the ace. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ 7 3 ♥ K 8 6 3 ♦ 6 5 3 ♣ A K 8 3. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: You seem to be playing with a 50-point deck. Still, you must bid your hand. Jump to three hearts, inviting game If partner has a sound minimum double such as A 6 5 4, A Q 7 5, 4, Q 10 6 5, you may take 11 tricks at hearts. You would bid two hearts to compete if your king of clubs were a low club. South dealer Both sides vulnerable