Grapefruit, my club's acid-tongued member, reminds me of a signal at a railroad crossing, clanging away loudly and futilely as a train passes by. He berates his partners mercilessly.

Grapefruit was today's East, and West led the queen of clubs against four hearts. Grapefruit signaled with the ten, won the next club with the nine and led the king. South ruffed with the ten of trumps, and West overruffed with the jack and led a diamond.

South took the king and cashed the A-K of trumps. When Grapefruit's queen fell, South drew West's seven with the nine and claimed his game, and Grapefruit told West if his brains were gas, he couldn't drive all the way around a doughnut.

Grapefruit's conduct was as bad as usual, but West ignored a defensive principle: Avoiding overruffing with a trump trick you'll win anyway.

If West discards on the third club, South will take the A-K of trumps next. Then West’s J-7 over South’s nine will be worth two tricks for down one.

Daily question >> You hold: ? K Q 6 4 ? 5 ? A J 9 3 ? J 7 6 4. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade and he bids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer >> Your partner has “reversed”. He promises a strong hand — in some partnerships, enough for game opposite a minimum response — and suggests longer diamonds than hearts. Slam is possible. Jump to four diamonds, showing good support. If partner has A75,AJ94,KQ1087,A, he will be encouraged to go to slam.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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