"The man offers me $5 to show up for the penny game," Cy the Cynic grumbled. He meant Ed, the club expert, who seems to have Cy's number.

"I led the king of diamonds against Ed's four spades," Cy said, "and he took the ace. If he leads a heart next, trying for a ruff in dummy, we can clear two of dummy's trumps, and Ed loses three hearts and a club. But he ruffed a diamond at Trick Two and got to dummy with the A-K of clubs to ruff two more diamonds with high trumps."

HIGH TRUMPS

Ed then conceded a club. He won East's trump return in dummy and ruffed a club for his eighth trick, and dummy still had two high trumps.

"He's unbeatable," the Cynic groaned.

"Your defense wasn't best."

It's easier in hindsight, but Cy might have reasoned that East-West wouldn't have four fast tricks to take, and if South had solid trumps and clubs, his contract was cold. But if South needed ruffs, a trump opening lead might be effective.

A trump lead (or a club) beats four spades.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 6 2 H A K J 8 3 D K Q J 6 C 10 7. You open one heart, your partner responds one spade, you bid two diamonds and he raises to three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: To pass and accept a plus score might be best. If you bid again and try for game, try three hearts, showing a six-card or strong five-card suit.

Partner will raise with a bit of support, and four hearts will be the only possible game if he has A 8 5 4 3, Q 4, A 8 5 2, 6 5.