“I heard,” Cy the Cynic told me in the club lounge, “that all the wheels were stolen off a city police car last night.”

“Really?”

“The cops,” Cy said, “are working tirelessly to find the thief.”

Today’s declarer had to find a missing queen — or thought so. Against his four hearts, West led the seven of diamonds, and East took the K-A and led a third diamond. South huddled, wondering which defender held the queen of trumps. He finally ruffed with the jack, but West overruffed. Since West had a sure club trick, South went down one.

“Sorry,” South apologized. “I could have ruffed with the ace and let the jack ride, but East had opened the bidding, after all.”

I would say East-West pulled off some robbery: They were plus 100 points, not minus 620. All South had to do was pitch a club on the third diamond. West ruffs, and dummy plays low. When South wins the spade shift, he can draw trumps without strain, then pitch another club on dummy’s high jack of diamonds.

Daily question >> You hold: ? K J 9 3 ? 6 5 ? A K 9 8 2 ? 6 4. Your partner opens one heart. The next player passes. What do you say?

Answer >> If your hand were a bit stronger, you could insist on game and would respond two diamonds. As it is, your hand is worth only a game-invitational sequence; hence you should bid one spade since finding a major-suit fit is a priority. If partner rebids two hearts, promising a six-card or longer suit, you can raise to three hearts.

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