Many of us keep a close (not closed) eye on the temptation we’re praying not to be led into. Many tempting plays need a second look.

Today’s West led the king of hearts against six spades. (South’s bidding was bold to say the least.) East signaled with the four, so West continued with the queen.

Declarer ruffed, led a club to dummy’s king and ruffed the last heart. He drew trumps, ran the clubs to discard two diamonds from dummy and had the rest. Making six.

West succumbed to temptation. To lead a second heart looked automatic, but South’s bid would have been truly bizarre with two low hearts.

Assuming the defense has no second heart to cash, West must defend passively, hoping his king of diamonds will be a winner.

Forcing declarer to ruff may be a passive, safe defense, but it helps him manage a dummy reversal. At Trick Two, West must exit with a trump or club. South lacks the entries to reverse the dummy and goes down when the diamond finesse fails.

Daily question: You hold: ? 10 7 ? A 4 3 2 ? 10 9 8 5 ? 10 9 2. Your partner opens two clubs (strong, artificial), you respond two diamonds (negative or waiting) and he bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: Bid four hearts, a textbook call. You promise good heart support but deny any useful side strength — no ace, king, singleton or void. You discourage slam, but if all partner needs from you is good trumps, he can go on.

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