When I watched today's deal in a money game, South was Joe Overberry, who plays every contract for the maximum, and many for the minimum. Joe's approach - that it's nobler to go down in pursuit of overtricks than to make his bid - drives his partners nuts.

At four spades Joe took the ace of hearts and picked up the trumps with finesses. Next, with visions of an overtrick, he led a diamond to his king. West took the ace and led a club, and Joe put up a dummy's king. East won and led a diamond. Joe finessed and East's jack won.

720 POINTS

"You did it again," North growled. "You chucked 720 points trying for a 30-point overtrick.

Joe was unmollified, of course. How would you have played?

After South draws trumps, he cashes two more hearts and leads a club to the king. The defense takes two clubs, but must break the diamonds, guessing the jack for South, or concede a ruff-sluff So South loses only two clubs and a diamond.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold spades K 8 4 hearts 10 9 8 diamonds A 4 3 clubs Q 9 6 5. your partner opens one diamond, you respond 1NT, he bids two clubs and you raise to three clubs. Partner next bids three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner is still interested in game and has tried to paint a picture of his distribution to let you evaluate your hand. All of your honors appear to fit well with his hand, hence jump to five clubs. Partner may hold A 5 3 2m K Q 9 7 2, A J 10 7.