Bridge

"Millard is a sweet guy," a player at the club told me, "but his elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor. We went to a pizza place yesterday, and he had his pizza cut into six slices because he said he wasn't hungry enough to eat eight."

Millard Pringle is a quiet little man who loses his way in the maze of defensive rules. He was today's East, and West led a diamond against South's game. South took the ace, cashed the A-K of hearts to pitch his last diamond and led a trump.

TWO CLUBS

"Millard played 'second hand low,' of course," my friend said. "To rise with the ace didn't occur to him. South led another trump and later lost two clubs but made his game."

No matter how you slice it, Millard misdefended. South clearly has no diamond losers, no hearts and only one trump, so the defenders need two clubs and a ruff. East must win the first trump and lead a low club. After West wins and returns a club to the ace, even Millard will lead a third club for down one.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 5 H 10 9 6 D K Q J 5 C A 6 5 2. You are the dealer. What is your opening call?

ANSWER: Today's East opened one diamond. I would choose that bid also because if the opponents buy the contract, a diamond opening lead may be essential. With the same pattern but with different high-card structure, however -- such as with 7 5, K 9 6, K J 6 4, A Q J 3 -- I would open one club. To open one diamond might make a club fit difficult to locate.

East dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S K J 7