DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“Got your Christmas decorations done?” I asked Unlucky Louie. “Lights put up outside, and so on?”

“We’re not doing much this year,” Louie said. “Lights should be festive, but my neighbor has gone overboard. He’s encouraging aircraft to land in his front yard.”

When I watched today’s deal at the club, East-West had a difficult signaling problem. South played at three hearts after a competitive auction. West led the king of diamonds, and East encouraged with the eight. West duly continued with the ace and a third diamond for East to ruff.

East then led a trump. West took the ace and shifted to the nine of spades, but declarer judged correctly to take the ace, draw trumps and attack the clubs. When West’s queen appeared, declarer claimed, making three.

West’s defense would have been right if East had held the ace of clubs instead of the king of spades, but then South wouldn’t have much of an opening bid. East prevails by signaling with the deuce on the first diamond. If West shifts to a spade, the defense can get five tricks one way or another.

DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ KJ64 ♥ 852 ♦ 82 ♣ 9 6 5 2. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer opens one heart. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids four hearts. After two passes, partner doubles again. What do you say?

ANSWER: This case is close. Partner’s doubles are for takeout. Though you might well beat four hearts, partner surely has spade support as well as a good hand, and his hand is marked short in hearts. Bid four spades. It’s possible that both fourlevel contracts are making.