“My husband is exasperating,” a fan writes. “He forgets to count and loses icy contracts.”

My fan says her husband was declarer at four hearts.

“He took the ace of spades, drew trumps and led a diamond to dummy’s queen. East took the king, cashed his king of spades (not best) and returned a diamond: ten, ace. When West then led the nine, my husband’s jack won, but East’s seven was high. My husband lost a club finesse with dummy’s jack and went down. If only he remembered to count.”

I wouldn’t be too hard on him; some husbands are apt to forget things, such as that they’re married. But South could make his game. East has the king of spades, and South should assume he has the queen of clubs since four hearts is cold otherwise. Each defender has a diamond honor: If West had both, he would have led one; if East, he would have opened the bidding.

After South draws trumps, he can lead a diamond to dummy’s eight. He sets up two diamond tricks to pitch two clubs from dummy.

Daily question >> You hold: ? Q J 10 3 2 ? 5 3 ? A 9 5 ? 10 9 3. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two diamonds and you return to two hearts. Partner then bids two spades. What do you say?

Answer >> Your partner has extra strength and is still looking for game despite your weak preference. If he had a hand such as K 9 4, A K 7 6 4, K 6 4 2, 2, he would have raised your one spade directly to two spades. Bid four spades. Partner may hold K 9 4, A K 7 6 4, K Q 4 2, 2.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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