DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Dear readers,

As near as I can tell, today marks the publication of my 10,000th bylined bridge column for the L.A. Times Syndicate, Tribune Media Services and now Tribune Content Agency.

In 1986, when Alfred Sheinwold invited me to be his collaborator, I felt as if I’d been asked to play golf with Jack Nicklaus. Since Freddy’s death in 1997, I have tried to enlighten and entertain my fellow players as he did.

I am profoundly grateful to you who have made my column part of your day, asked my opinion about a deal, written to add a new wrinkle to one of my column deals or sent interesting deals of your own. You went to bat for bridge and for me when, as has occurred a time or two, a paper proposed to drop my column. Many of you have taken a moment to offer a kind comment about Daily Bridge Club.

For 33 years I have been blessed to do something I feel I was meant to do: write about the greatest of all card games. I plan to continue as long as I can sit at a keyboard. — Frank Stewart

Cover today’s East-West cards. West leads a trump against four hearts. How do you play? Solution tomorrow.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ 832 ♥ 64 ♦ AQ8 5 ♣ K 10 8 7. Your partner opens one diamond, you raise to two diamonds and he bids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Look for the nine-trick notrump game. Bid three clubs to show strength in that suit and encourage. Some pairs use “inverted” minor-suit raises: A raise to two diamonds is forcing, and a jump to three is weak. That is not my favorite treatment.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable