Cy the Cynic says that honesty is the best policy, especially when there's money in it. I think he feels the same way about dishonesty.

Cy was today's West. At six spades, South put up dummy's king on the first club and led a trump to finesse with his jack. Cy casually played low, so declarer went back to the king of hearts and led a second trump to his ten.

This time the Cynic won and returned a trump. South then took the A-K of diamonds and ruffed a diamond in dummy, but when East discarded, South lost a diamond to Cy's queen. Down one.

FIFTH DIAMOND

South would succeed if Cy played an honest king on the first trump. South would win the club return, cash the ace of trumps, take the top diamonds, ruff a diamond, lead a heart to his ace and ruff a diamond. He could take the king of hearts, ruff a heart, draw the last trump and score his fifth diamond.

South might have made the slam in any case. After his jack of trumps won, he could guess to take the ace and start the diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A J 10 6 H A 5 D A K J 8 5 C A 4. With both sides vulnerable, your partner deals and opens three hearts. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: At the vulnerability, you can rely on partner for a decent suit. Bid 5NT, the "Grand Slam Force," asking him to bid seven of the agreed suit (hearts, by implication) with two of the top three honors. If he holds 7, K Q 10 9 7 6 3, 3 2, Q 7 6, he'll have a good chance for 13 tricks.