Bridge - March 17

"My dummy play is usually good," a reader's e-mail reads, "but sometimes when I'm declarer my brain has a mind of its own."

My fan was declarer at four hearts, and West led the jack of spades.

"I won with dummy's ace and let the eight of trumps ride, and West took the queen and led another spade. I took the queen - and then my brain vacated my body. I led another trump, and West won and led a third spade. East ruffed dummy's king, and I also lost a club."

LAST SPADE

After South wins the second spade, he must cash three diamonds to pitch his last spade. When he leads a trump next, West wins and leads a spade, but South plays low from dummy, ruffs in his hand, draws trumps and has 10 tricks.

South's play was simply an aberration. What bothers me more is his bidding. South had secondary values and balanced pattern. Over 1NT, he might have used Stayman to look for a 5-4 heart fit, but to pursue a 5-3 heart fit was wrong. South would have done better to raise 1NT to 3NT.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 10 9 7 H A Q D 9 5 2 C K 8 7 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: You might bid some number of spades since partner's double indicates good support for the other major suit. If you had 10 good points, you'd jump to two spades to invite game, but your queen of hearts is probably worthless. Bid one spade or 1NT. You'd try two spades with J 10 9 7, A 2, 9 5 2, K Q 7 2.