DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Our local paper ran a story about a series of break-ins at a medical center’s huge parking deck.

“Crime in a parking deck,” Cy the Cynic sighed. “Wrong on so many levels.”

Some of the players seem to have found their level in today’s deal. In the bidding, North could have responded 1NT, a more descriptive call than one diamond. When East bid one heart, South should have passed with his minimum instead of bidding 1NT freely. North could have judged to pass East’s two hearts.

Eight tricks: Against 2NT, West led the king of hearts: three, jack, four. Alas, West couldn’t find another heart. He did his level best by leading a spade, and East won and led the A-10 of hearts. Declarer won and cashed the A-K of diamonds. When East’s queen fell, South had eight tricks: four diamonds, two spades, a heart and a club.

East’s defense wasn’t levelheaded. Since West’s king of hearts is surely a singleton, East must overtake it and continue with the jack. South can win only seven tricks.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ A9 ♥ AJ10752 ♦ Q9 ♣ K J 5. You open one heart, your partner responds one spade, you rebid two hearts and he rebids two spades. What do you say?

Answer: Partner suggests a sixcard spade suit but no more than 10 points. He probably has no tolerance for hearts. Since game is unlikely, pass. It’s true that your hand was almost worth a jump to three hearts, but you can’t let that impel you to take an undisciplined action now. South dealer

Both sides vulnerable