"Even Napoleon had his Watergate." - attributed to Yogi Berra.

Expert declarers seldom boot an easy contract, but nobody is perfect. In today's deal West led his singleton jack of clubs against South's slam, and South avoided immediate disaster when he took dummy's ace. South next took the A-Q of trumps and the A-K of hearts and ruffed his jack of hearts in dummy. He met his Watergate when East overruffed and took the king of clubs.

How would you play the slam?

12TH TRICK

South starts with 11 sure tricks: five trumps, two diamonds, two hearts and two clubs. To ruff a heart in dummy for the 12th trick is attractive but not safe. South should instead draw all the trumps and lead the queen of clubs.

If East takes the king and shifts to a heart, South wins in his hand with the king. He cashes the ten of clubs, gets to dummy with the ace of hearts and ruffs a club with his last trump. South can then take the K-A of diamonds and win the 13th trick with dummy's good club.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 7 3 H A 5 D A J 5 C A 5 4 3 2. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. You double, and your partner bids two spades. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner's jump-response invites game. He has 9 or 10 points but maybe only a four-card spade suit. Hence, you can't rush into four spades even though you have a sound hand. Bid three clubs, forcing. You'll have room to look for game at clubs, spades or notrump.