There is always room for improvement; it’s the biggest room in anybody’s house.

At today’s four spades, declarer ruffed the second heart, drew trumps with dummy’s K-Q and led a diamond to his jack. West took the queen and exited with a diamond. South won, but when West held Q-9-8 in clubs, the defenders got two club tricks. Down one.

South’s play gave him about a 50% chance. Could he improve on those odds?

South has better chances: If West held 52,J10972,Q1072,Q9, South could succeed with a strip-and-end-play.

Alternatively, after dummy wins the first trump, South can lead a club: five, jack, queen. (He would play the same way if East overtook West’s jack of hearts and shifted to a diamond.) South ruffs the heart return, takes another round of trumps and leads the ace and six of clubs. When clubs break 3-3, dummy’s last club is a winner. If clubs broke 4-2, South could finesse in diamonds.

Any line would be better than relying solely on a finesse.

Daily question: You hold: ? 4 3 ? A Q 8 5 2 ? 9 6 3 ? K 10 5. Your partner opens one spade, you respond 1NT and he bids two diamonds. What do you say?

Answer: You should not try two hearts (partner might have no hearts at all) or 2NT (your hand is a bit too weak). Nor should you pass when game is still possible, and playing at a weak 4-3 diamond fit might be awkward. Take a false preference: Bid two spades. If partner passes, the contract should be playable.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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