DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Today’s West was the dreaded Grapefruit, my club member with a disposition like an untipped waiter. He badgers his partners mercilessly.

Against South’s six spades, Grapefruit led his singleton club: four, ten, king. Declarer drew trumps and led a club. When Grapefruit showed out, South took dummy’s ace and returned the jack, ruffing East’s queen. He led to the king of hearts and cashed three clubs, pitching diamonds. He lost one diamond at the end, and Grapefruit told East he was so dumb he probably thought he couldn’t listen to AM radio in the afternoon.

“Your opening lead was poor at best,” East growled.

Grapefruit informed the kibitzers that East needed to sue his brain for nonsupport.

When East played the ten of clubs, he made it easy for South to set up the suit.

If instead East plays low, South wins with the nine, but he must draw trumps and then lacks the entries to use the long clubs. Even with the ace of diamonds onside, he wins only 11 tricks.

DAILY QUESTION You hold: S A Q 10 7 3HA4DK983CK9. You open one spade, your partner responds 1NT, you bid two diamonds and he returns to two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: This decision is close. Your partner could have as many as nine points or as few as six. To pass might be a winning action, but if partner has a maximum, game is possible. If you’re vulnerable, with more to gain, bid 2NT to try for game.