Oscar Wilde said, “I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.” How strange – did he really believe that? If you have some good advice, pass it on if the listener will be receptive, but do not forget it yourself.

This week, we are looking at deals in which declarer can place key missing honor cards by remembering an opponent’s bid or pass.

How is that relevant to this deal? South is in four hearts. West leads the diamond ace. When East encourages with the 10, West continues with the king and another diamond. East shifts to the spade three. How should South continue?

When a player fails to open the bidding, mentally register that he has fewer than 12 points and probably no long suit because he did not pre-empt. Here, South opens one heart; West overcalls one spade, indicating that he has a maximum pass; North raises to two hearts; and South jumps to game. (Yes, three no-trump would work well here, but that would be risky.)

South must find the club queen to make his contract with two spades, five hearts and three clubs. He should leave clubs as late as possible.

Declarer should win trick four with his spade ace, draw trumps, play a spade to dummy’s king, and ruff dummy’s last spade in his hand. What has he learned?

That West is marked with 10 points: the diamond aceking and spade queen-jack. As West couldn’t open the bidding, this means that East surely has the club queen. South plays a club to dummy’s king and runs the club jack through East.