Medical science has progressed to a point where you can have a checkup and your doctor can’t find nothing wrong with you.

“My partner is a doctor,” a fan writes, “and he’s hard to please. I was South in this deal, and when East-West bid to four spades, I took the push to five hearts.

“West led the king of spades, and I threw a diamond on dummy’s ace and drew trumps. I finessed in diamonds and twice in clubs and went down one when every card was wrong. My partner diagnosed me. He said if I was going to play that way, I should have doubled four spades and settled for plus 200.”

South was right to bid five hearts, but he must duck West’s opening lead, pitching a diamond. If West shifts to a diamond, South takes the ace, throws his last diamond on the ace of spades and ruffs a diamond high. He takes the ace of trumps, leads a trump to dummy and ruffs the last diamond.

South then leads a trump to dummy and returns a club to his ten. When West wins, he is end-played.

Daily question >> You hold: ? A 6 ? 10 9 8 6 2 ? A Q 10 ? 6 3 2. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens three clubs. You pass, the next player passes and your partner doubles. What do you say?

Answer >> Your partner neither promises nor denies a good hand, but he may have stretched to “balance.” He is counting on you for some points. Your decision is close, but since you have a five-card major suit and some prime values, be aggressive and bid four hearts.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

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