Dummy play offers no “style points.” Your score is the same whether you succeed with a finesse or a complex squeeze.

At today’s 3NT, South took the queen of spades and next let the jack of diamonds ride. East won and returned a spade, forcing out South’s ace and setting up West’s suit.

South had eight tricks. He could make overtricks if East had the king of clubs, but South sensed that West had an entry to his spades. So South cashed three diamonds.

When West threw a heart and a spade, South took the K-A of hearts and exited with dummy’s last spade. After West took three spades, he had to lead a club from his king at the 12th trick. (He might have done well to pitch a club on the diamonds.)

South might win style points if there were any, but a simple play is to lead a heart to dummy at Trick Two and finesse in clubs, forcing out West’s possible entry. South wins Wes’s spade return and then finesses in diamonds. East has no more spades, so South is safe.

Daily question: You hold: ? 10 4 ? Q J 7 5 ? K 5 3 ? 6 4 3 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, and you respond “advance”) one heart. Partner raises to two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner was willing to undertake an eight-trick contract, and he couldn’t know that you have two heart honors, a useful king and no “wasted” points in clubs opposite his likely shortness. If you trust him, bid three or four hearts. He may hold A Q J 6, A K 9 2, A 7 6, 9 5.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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