John Carruthers formerly edited the International Bridge Press Association’s publication. He gave today’s deal to the Daily Bulletin at the Fall NABC, continuing the saga of “Selby,” a player of outrageous ego and skill who appeared in Carruthers’ book “Bridge with Another Perfect Partner.”

In a team match, both Souths played at four spades. Carruthers, West at one table, led a heart, and South lost to the ace of trumps, plus a heart and two diamonds. When the teams compared scores, Carruthers found to his disbelief that Selby had made four spades. How did he manage that?

Selby took the ace of hearts and cashed the ace of clubs: two, queen, ten. Next, placing West with 1-3-6-3 shape (East-West had not competed to the five level and neither player was likely to have a seven-card suit), he led the jack of clubs and threw his heart loser.

West won and tried to cash a heart, but Selby ruffed and got to dummy with trumps to set up and cash the long clubs. The defense got a club, a trump and one diamond.

Selby, of course, was quick to extol his play.

Daily question: You hold: ? 7 ? K Q J 9 8 5 ? Q 5 4 ? 9 7 2. You open two hearts, weak. Your partner bids 2NT. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: Partner’s 2NT is a forcing inquiry. Partnerships have various agreements. Some use artificial rebids by opener to show a good or bad suit or hand. In a common style, opener shows a feature: a side ace or king. If that is your agreement, bid three hearts. A few pairs might bid three diamonds to suggest a stopper in that suit.

West dealer

Neither side vulnerable

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