I’ve heard an optimist defined as someone who is sure everything will come out in the wish. But it’s not a good idea to wish for too much.

Today’s South played at four hearts after opening in fourth seat. West cashed the K-A of spades and exited with a trump, and declarer drew trumps and next let the queen of clubs ride. East produced the king and led the ten of diamonds, and when South played low, West’s king won. Down one.

“I should grab the ace of diamonds and try to squeeze West in the minors,”South said. “That play wouldn’t have worked either.”

South was too much the optimist. West, a passed hand, had shown the A-K of spades, so East had at least one king. After South draws trumps, he ruffs his last spade in dummy and leads a low club. East must take his king or lose it, and South can later discard two diamonds on the A-J.

If West has the king of clubs, South pitches a diamond on dummy’s A-J and will be sure to succeed since a diamond finesse will win.

Daily question: You hold: ? A K J 9 ? 6 3 ? K 8 7 3 ? 8 7 5. Your partner opens one club, you respond one spade and he rebids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: A bid of two diamonds — a new suit — would be forcing and unlimited in strength and might lead to confusion. Instead, raise to three clubs, inviting game. If your partner wants to try for 3NT, he will have plenty of bidding space to investigate for that contract.

West dealer

Both sides vulnerable

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