Katherine Mansfield, an author from New Zealand who died in 1923, said, "The pleasure of all reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books."

The pleasure of all bridge playing is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same bidding and defense agreements.

We are studying responder's raising of partner's major with a good hand after righty throws in a takeout double. Yesterday, I mentioned that a response of two no-trump shows four or more trumps and game-invitational values. With a game-force, responder jumps to three no-trump. (It is possible to combine the two, responding two no-trump with game-invitational values or more. Then three no-trump can have a different meaning, perhaps a pre-emptive raise to game with a side-suit defensive trick. Discuss this with your partner.)

In this deal, South ends in four spades. What should he do after winning West's heart-queen lead?

South is faced with a potential loser in each suit. If a trump is led immediately, West will win with the ace and play another heart, dooming declarer to defeat. But if a diamond is led before trumps are touched, the contract makes. East wins with his ace and plays back a heart, but South wins the trick, plays a club to dummy's king, and discards his heart loser on the diamond king. Then trumps are drawn as quickly as possible. Declarer's 10 tricks are four spades, two hearts, one diamond, two clubs and an eventual club ruff in dummy.