DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

A little yearning is a dangerous thing: Joe Overberry thinks it’s nobler to go down in pursuit of an overtrick than to make his bid.

In a penny game, Joe was declarer at today’s four spades, and West led a diamond. Joe captured East’s queen, led a trump to dummy and returned a heart to his queen.

West took the king and led a trump. Joe put up dummy’s king; to finesse wouldn’t have helped him. He took the ace of hearts and ruffed a heart but still had a heart to lose, plus a diamond and a trump to West’s queen. Down one.

“The man avoids a trump opening lead, which would always beat the contract,” North muttered, “and he goes down trying for an overtrick.”

Joe’s yearning for an overtrick was costly. He should take the ace of hearts at Trick Two, then lead a low heart. Say East wins and leads a trump, and Joe’s jack wins. Joe ruffs a heart, takes the A-K of clubs and ruffs his last heart. His 10-9-8-7 of trumps are worth three more tricks for 10 tricks in all.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ Q532 ♥ KJ94 ♦ J83 ♣ Q 6. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

Answer: Bid one spade. If the auction turns competitive — say the opening bidder rebids two diamonds, and two passes follow — you have enough strength to compete. You will bid two hearts and play at the major suit your partner prefers. He may have four-card support for only one major.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable