DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

One of my regrets is that I never got to have a game with Norman Kay, one of the great gentlemen in the history of bridge.

Kay was West in today’s deal from a Team Trials. Against South’s four spades he led the 10 of diamonds, and East, Edgar Kaplan, took the ace and shifted to a trump: nine, 10, king. Declarer cashed the A-K of hearts, ruffed a heart, ruffed a diamond in dummy and led the jack of hearts. When East’s queen covered, declarer chose to discard his last diamond.

Kay threw the ace of clubs! Kaplan then led the king of clubs and another club, and no matter what South did, Kay would score his jack of trumps for the setting trick. South could have survived by discarding the nine of clubs on the fourth heart. He would have survived against many Wests anyway.

Norman Kay died in 2002, regarded with affection by all who knew him as a perfect partner, a gracious opponent and a winner.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: 2 Q975 AQ 32 K 7 6 3. The dealer, at your right, opens two spades (weak). Suppose you pass. Your pattern is ideal, but you lack the high-card values to act. After two passes, your partner doubles. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner should have opening values to double, even in the “balancing” seat. Game is likely. Cue-bid three spades. If he bids 3NT or four hearts, pass. If he bids four of a minor suit, you must guess whether to raise.