DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Snow had fallen, and before I left for the club, I turned on the radio for a traffic report.

“Streets are icy and congested,” I heard. “If you’re thinking of going somewhere now, better start out a few minutes earlier.”

Many end plays require a finer sense of timing than that. At today’s four hearts, South correctly ducked the first spade and won the second, but he next took the A- K of trumps. When East discarded, declarer led a club. West won and cashed his high trump, and South also lost a diamond. Down one.

If the queen of trumps doesn’t fall, South’s only chance is an end play — but he must time the play well. After he wins the second spade, he takes the ace of trumps but does best to lead the queen of clubs next. If West wins and returns a club, South wins and takes the king of trumps.

South then cashes the A- K of diamonds and his last club before exiting with a trump. His luck is in: When West wins, he must concede a ruffsluff, and South is home. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠8 5 ♥ J 5 4 3 ♦K 7 4 3 ♣ K J 10. Your partner opens one diamond. The next player doubles. What do you say?

ANSWER: If your righthand opponent had passed, you would have responded one heart to seek a fit in the major suit. But the double changes the picture. Your opponent suggests heart length and strength, and the auction may be competitive. Expert opinion would vary, but I would give partner a picture of my hand by raising to two diamonds. South dealer Both sides vulnerable