In the club lounge, I asked my friend the English professor whether there were circumstances in which he would give a makeup exam.

“I teach English, not cosmetology,” the prof growled. “My students get just one chance.”

The prof was today’s North in a penny game. When South opened one spade and bid hearts next, the prof took control with Blackwood and bid six hearts when South showed two aces.

West led a diamond, and South took dummy’s ace, cashed the ace of spades, drew trumps with the K-Q and then let the nine of spades ride. West produced the queen and led a second diamond for down one.

“Just like some of my students,” the prof muttered. “Even if they had a second chance, they wouldn’t take advantage.”

After South draws trumps, he should take the A-K of spades. When the queen falls, he is home. If East-West played low spades, South would still have a chance: He could try a club finesse with dummy’s queen, hoping to pitch his diamond loser on the ace.

Daily question: You hold: ? 9 5 3 ? K Q J 7 ? A J ? A Q 10 3. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. You double, and your partner “advances” one spade. What do you say?

Answer: Since partner did not jump to two spades, he has at most nine points, and game chances look poor, especially since he may have only four spades. To pass would be reasonable. Since you have some extra strength, you might try 1NT. Some experts might have overcalled 1NT originally.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

Tribune Content Agency