In my club’s penny game, South was the notorious Joe Overberry, whose obsession with overtricks costs him tons of points and puts gray hairs on his partners’ heads.

Against four hearts, East took the ace of clubs and returned a club. Joe won, drew trumps and led a diamond. West rose with the ace(!) and led the ten of spades.

Joe, who thinks it nobler to go down in pursuit of an overtrick than make his bid, saw a chance here. He was sure West had the queen of diamonds; why else would West grab the ace instead of sparing declarer a guess?

DOWN ONE

So Joe took the ace of spades, led a trump to his hand and returned a second diamond to dummy’s jack. East produced the queen and led a spade to West’s king for down one, and North sobbed like the Mock Turtle.

Joe might have gotten his treasured overtrick on a lucky day, but for the contract, he should play the queen of spades at Trick Six. If East had the king, Joe would still get home if West had the queen of diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 10 9 8 2 H 9 8 D A 5 C J 9 5 2. The dealer, at your left, opens two hearts (weak). Your partner doubles, and the next player bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner has a hand worth 15 or more points, probably with support for the unbid suits, especially the other major. Your opponent’s three hearts is obstructive. Bid four spades. You would bid three spades to compete if your ace of diamonds were the queen.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A Q

H A 10 6 4

D K J 10 9 2

C 10 6

WEST

S K 10 9 8 2

H 9 8

D A 5

C J 9 5 2

EAST

S 7 5 4

H 5 3

D Q 8 6

C A 8 7 4 3

SOUTH

S J 6 3

H K Q J 7 2

D 7 4 3

C K Q

North East South West
1 D Pass 1 H Pass
2 H Pass 4 H All Pass
Opening lead — C 2

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