It is never too late to become a member

As the holiday season rapidly approaches — where did summer go? — let's look at some possible gifts for your family, friends and self.

Even if you never play duplicate bridge — if not, why not? — you can join the American Contract Bridge League. You will receive an excellent monthly magazine full of articles aimed at all levels of player. You can also bid eight pairs of hands with your partner and compare your final contracts with two expert pairs.

I contribute a monthly article on card play. Here is one of my deals. What should happen in four spades after West leads the club 10?

North might have advanced with a two-club cue-bid raise or a conventional two no-trump, depending upon partnership preference, but jumping straight to four spades was not silly, because a slam was unlikely and it potentially made life harder for the opener. (If East had bid again, North would have doubled to tell South that he had a strong, not pre-emptive, raise.)

East takes three tricks in clubs, then leads his last club honor. How should South continue?

Since the red suits are safe, declarer has to decide who holds the spade queen. How?

South should count the highcard points. Dummy has 14 and he holds 13. That leaves only 13 for East and West. But since East opened, he must have the spade queen. (Do not worry about 11-point openings, especially without a five-card suit.)

Declarer ruffs with his spade eight, plays a spade to the ace and runs the spade 10 through East.

Details at acbl.org.