Another message on the changeable sign beside a church in my town: “Pobody’s nerfect. Come on in.”

Today’s declarer gave his game contract a healthy try. West led the eight of diamonds, and South took dummy’s ace and cashed the K-A of trumps with a happy result. He next tried a heart finesse with the queen.

West took the king and led another diamond. South played the jack from dummy, but when East won and led the jack of clubs, West took two clubs for down one.

Nobody ever produced a perfect session of bridge and nobody ever will. Perfect play on one deal is attainable, but South didn’t measure up here. After he takes the top trumps, he can cash dummy’s king of diamonds, playing West to have led from a doubleton, and lead a club to his ten.

West can take the queen and ace and lead the high nine, but instead of ruffing, South pitches his last diamond. West is end-played: He must lead another club, conceding a fatal ruff-sluff, or lead a heart from his king.

Daily question: You hold: ? K 8 7 4 3 ? A Q 5 ? 7 5 2 ? K 10. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids three diamonds. What do you say?

Answer: Your opponent’s jump-raise is weak and preemptive; with a good hand, he might redouble. Your partner’s double suggests opening values or more with spade support. If he has the right 13-point hand — AQ92,K872,None,A9652 — you can make a slam. Cue-bid four diamonds.

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