Kridge >> Ky yrank Stewart

Rose, our club member who is so sweet to her fellow players, says that life often gives you a second chance: It’s called “tomorrow.” But when you are declarer, one chance may be all you get.

Today’s West led the queen of spades against four hearts. South saw 10 winners — one spade, six trumps, three clubs — but had to avoid four losers. He took the ace, drew trumps, led to the ace of clubs and returned the queen.

OVERTRICK?

When East played low, South threw a spade. He would have made overtricks on a lucky day, but as it was, West took the king and led another spade. East won and led the ten of diamonds, and West took the A-Q. Down one.

South got one chance to err — at Trick One — and grabbed it. He must duck the queen of spades.

South wins the next spade and proceeds as before, drawing trumps and taking the ruffing finesse in clubs. But when West wins, he can no longer give East the lead, and South can discard two diamonds on the good clubs, making his game.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A96 A Q J 10 6 3 KJ5 ♣ 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your hand has slam potential; indeed, had it been a bit stronger, you might have jumped to two hearts at your first turn. A bid of three hearts now would be invitational to game, not forcing. Bid two spades, the “fourth suit,” to force and get more information from your partner.

South dealer

E-W vulnerable