Cy the Cynic defines “gaining experience” as when you make new mistakes instead of the same old ones.

In today’s deal, South wanted to reach game but was stuck for a good bid at his second turn. He cue-bid two hearts to force, and when North showed spade tolerance, South went to four spades.

West led a heart, and East won with the queen and shifted to a trump. Declarer took dummy’s king and saw that if he drew trumps and then lost a diamond finesse, East would take two more hearts. So at Trick Three, South led dummy’s jack of diamonds!

It was an imaginative idea, but West took the queen and led another diamond. East ruffed and cashed another heart for down one.

Maybe South will gain from the experience. He should draw trumps, take the A-K of clubs, lead a diamond to the ace and return the jack of clubs, pitching a heart when East follows low. The defense can take another heart, but South ruffs the next heart and has 10 tricks. He doesn’t need the diamond finesse.

Daily question >> You hold: ? A Q J 7 6 ? 9 7 4 ? 10 8 6 ? A K. You open one spade, your partner bids two hearts, you raise to three hearts and he tries four diamonds. What do you say?

Answer >> This problem might divide an expert panel. Partner’s four diamonds is an ace-showing cue bid to try for slam. Should you cooperate? A cue bid of four spades or five clubs would be reasonable, but the poor trump support would deter me. I would sign off at four hearts.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

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