You're kibitzing today's deal, and North-South get to four hearts. Declarer wins the first spade in dummy, picks up the trumps with a finesse, and leads the jack of diamonds, winning.

"Didn't bid enough," South sighs. He finesses in diamonds again and runs the diamonds to pitch his clubs. Making seven.

Kibitzers have their functions, and South appeals to you. He asks if he should have been at slam. How do you reply?

CLUB SHIFT

As South played, North-South would have been too high at game if the position of the red-suit kings had been reversed. At Trick Two South should lead a trump to his ace. He doesn't care if East wins a trick with the king but doesn't want West to get in for a club shift.

If both defenders play low, South finesses in diamonds. If East won, he couldn't lead a club effectively. South would win the spade return and run the diamonds. He would go down if West had the guarded king of trumps plus fewer than three diamonds; but then South could never succeed.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 6 H A Q 10 9 6 2 D J 6 C 10 4 3. You open two hearts (a weak two-bid showing an average hand with a six-card suit). Your partner bids two spades, and the opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Almost all expert pairs treat a new-suit response to a weak two-bid as forcing. Responder would have little reason to bid a new suit with a poor hand. Since your spade support is rather better than partner can expect, raise to three spades.