Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society: Optimists invented the airplane, a pessimist the parachute. Good dummy play has room for both.

Today’s North-South did well to reach 3NT. North risked a bid of three spades at his second turn, which might have gotten him an unwelcome heart preference and pushed the partnership too high.

West led the jack of clubs: deuce, king, ace. South then banged down the ace of diamonds; with a 2-2 break, he would have had at least 10 tricks. He was stunned when West discarded a heart. When South led a low diamond next, East won and returned a club. Then the best South could do was go down only two.

South needed to be a pessimist, or maybe a realist. To make 3NT, he needed only five diamond tricks. Only a foul break could endanger the contract, so South should have played safe by leading the nine of diamonds at Trick Two.

When East won and returned a club, South could win and reach dummy twice for diamond leads, picking up East’s remaining honors.

Daily question: You hold: ? A 6 5 3 ? A 10 7 6 ? 6 5 3 ? 6 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids two clubs and you return to two diamonds. Partner next bids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Partner is trying for game despite your weak preference to two diamonds. You have only eight points but two aces; your ace of spades is a good card opposite partner’s marked shortness. I would be inclined to encourage game. Bid four diamonds. Partner may hold 4,K94,AQJ87,AK87.

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