My friend the English professor has little patience with partners who lose makeable contracts — and none when they try to justify an inferior line of play.

At six spades, South ruffed the second heart with the ten of trumps, took the A-Q of trumps and next cashed the A-K of clubs. When East-West played low, South took the king of diamonds and let the jack ride. East won and cashed the queen of clubs for down two.

"I gave myself an extra chance," South argued. "If the queen of clubs falls, I'm home."

Was South's play contra-indicated?

After South takes the top clubs, he should lead the nine of trumps to dummy's king and return a diamond to his jack, hoping East has Q-x-x. Taking the king and leading the jack would fail unless West had Q-9-x. With Q-x-x West would cover the jack, and South could get only one club discard and would still lose a club.

Daily question >> You hold: ? K 7 5 3 ? K 5 ? A 10 8 2 ? J 4 3. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two clubs and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three hearts. What do you say?

Answer >> Your partner's auction suggests six hearts, four clubs and extra high-card strength. With a minimum 6-4 hand, most experts would have rebid two hearts to suggest a minimum. Raise to four hearts. If partner holds A4,AQ10764,3,A1092, he may take 12 tricks.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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