Who was at fault?

“Never underestimate a woman’s ability to make anything that happens your fault,” a club player told me sourly.

He was today’s East. Against four hearts, West led the ace and king of clubs, showing a doubleton. East played the six and deuce.

“My wife was West,” he told me. “She led the jack of diamonds next. Declarer took the ace, drew trumps and took the K-Q of diamonds to pitch dummy’s last two clubs. He lost a spade to my ace, making four. My wife said the result was all my fault, but I feel unjustly accused.”

THIRD TRICK

I would not fault West since the contract might be cold if South had the ace of spades. East gets most of the blame. He must follow to the king of clubs with the queen as a suitpreference signal: a strikingly high club to tell West to lead the highranking suit next. If West shifts to a spade at Trick Three, East wins and gives West a club ruff for down one.

To avoid being blamed for poor results on defense, save your partner from error.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: 10 8 5 4 2 6 5 J 10 7 2 A K. Dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids two diamonds. What do you say?

Game chances are bright. Your partner has opening values or more with spade support, his hand appears to be short in diamonds, and your fifth spade will be helpful. Jump to three spades, invitational. You would bid two spades to compete if your king of clubs were a low club. South dealer Both sides vulnerable

ANSWER: NORTH KQ73 Q 10 7 4 8 J 8 4 3