DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Had a prize been awarded for the most unlikely successful contract at the Summer NABC, Jim Bachelder of Columbus, Ohio, would have won. Bachelder was South in the Senior Swiss Teams. In North-South’s methods, South’s three clubs asked for a five-card major; North’s three diamonds denied one. South’s three spades showed four cards in hearts.

When West unwisely doubled, North redoubled, intending to suggest strong spades. South, thinking his partner showed four spades, passed after much thought.

West should have led a trump. After he started with the ace of clubs, he surely should have led one. But West continued with a second club. Bachelder won, took the ace of diamonds, ruffed a diamond, led a heart to dummy and ruffed a diamond. He cashed a heart for his sixth trick and led a club.

West ruffed but had to lead a trump. South won with dummy’s jack, exited with another heart and had to score the A-Q of trumps. Making three redoubled for the rare score of plus 760. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ K 10 8 7 6 2 ♥9 7

♦8 6 3 ♣ A 9. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he rebids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: I consider this a close case. To rebid two spades with the six-card suit would not be a terrible action, but partner has shown six or more hearts and may have no spades at all. At a heart contract, moreover, he might be able to take a club ruff in dummy. I would pass. North dealer Neither side vulnerable