My friend the English professor says that a past imperfect can mean a future tense. Once the first trick is past, it’s past; consider your play before you touch a card.

Against today’s 3NT, West led the six of spades, and when East played the king, South held up his ace. South won East’s return of the ten and led a heart. West produced the ace — and cashed the queen, jack and three of spades for down one.

“I needed better advance planning,” South frowned.

The prof had watched South’s play intensely. “What other type of planning would suffice?” he growled.

South lost his game with imperfect play at Trick One. He is at risk only if West has five spades plus the ace of hearts. But South can expect East to have two spade honors. West would have led the queen from Q-J-10-6-3 and probably the ten from Q-10-9-6-3.

South must win the first spade, blocking the suit. When West takes the ace of hearts, he can cash the Q-J, but dummy’s eight will win the next spade.

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

Answer: You have 10 useful points, including an ace: enough strength to invite game. Since your partner’s double strongly suggests support for the major suits, jump to two spades. It may look odd to jump with four ragged spades, but what you are really doing is “supporting” partner’s implied suit.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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