“I wonder what the part of my brain that used to remember phone numbers is doing now,” a reader’s email laments. “I can’t recall the bidding, much less a mental phone directory.”

When West doubled one spade, North’s 2NT was a conventional “limit raise.” Against four spades, West led the king of diamonds. East discouraged with the three, and West shifted to the queen of hearts (not best).

“I took the king,” declarer writes, “drew trumps and let the queen of clubs ride. East won and returned a diamond, and West took the jack and ace. Down one. If I remember the bidding - or the lack of it - I can do better.”

RED-SUIT JACK

Once West, who didn’t open, shows the A-K of diamonds and queen of hearts and surely has a red-suit jack, East has the king of clubs. South must let the queen of hearts win.

If West leads another heart, South takes the king, draws trumps and discards a club on the ace of hearts. Then he can take the ace of clubs and lead the jack for a ruffing finesse through East, setting up his 10th trick.

Daily question: You hold: ? Q 10 5 3 ? A 7 3 ? 7 6 2 ? A J 10. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade, he bids two clubs and you try 2NT, Partner then rebids three clubs. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner’s bidding indicates a minimum two-suited hand; partner says he wants no part of either game or notrump. Be disciplined and take him back to three diamonds. To persist with 3NT would simply tell partner that you don’t trust his judgment.

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