The school of experience would be easier if there were occasional vacations, but becoming a winning player is an ongoing process.

At today's slam South opted to try for a crossruff. He could ruff three spades in dummy and pitch one on a high club. South therefore took his high clubs, throwing a spade. He would have had a chance even if a defender ruffed, but East-West followed politely.

South next took the ace of spades and ruffed a spade, but East unkindly overruffed with the queen and led a trump. South could then ruff one more spade in dummy, but he lost a spade to West's king at the end. Down one.

PAINFUL

It was a painful experience for South, but maybe he learned something about planning. After he takes the ace of spades, he can ruff a spade with the ace of trumps, ruff a diamond and ruff a spade with the king.

South then ruffs a diamond and ruffs his last spade in dummy.

East can overruff or discard, but his queen of trumps wins the defenders' only trick.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 5 H A K 7 D Q 10 5 4 3 C A Q 7 4. You open one diamond, and your partner bids one heart. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner's response improved your hand, but not enough to insist on game. Hence you can't jump-shift to three clubs, nor can you jump to three hearts. Bid two clubs. If partner returns to two diamonds, you'll bid two hearts to show extra strength. If you had 5, A K 7, Q 10 5 4 3, K 8 7 4, you'd raise directly to two hearts.