When I watched today's deal in a Chicago game at my club, South was Joe Overberry. Joe tries to be an overachiever: He believes it's nobler to go down trying for overtricks than to make what he bid. He often ends up as an underachiever.

Against six spades, West led the jack of diamonds, and Joe took the king and set off in pursuit of 13 tricks. He cashed the A-K of clubs and ruffed a club with dummy's four of trumps. East overruffed with the five and led a trump, and Joe had underachieved again. His last club was a loser, and the result was down one.

SEVEN

"With normal breaks in the black suits, I'd make seven," Joe sighed. How would you play for a modest 12 tricks?

South should pitch a heart on the A-K of diamonds and ruff the third club with the ace of trumps to avoid the possibility of an overruff. He leads a heart to his ace and ruffs his last club with dummy's low trump. East can overruff and lead a red card, but South ruffs, draws trumps and takes the rest.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 4 H J 6 4 3 2 D A K 5 4 C J 6. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts, he rebids two spades and you try three diamonds. Partner then bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Since your two hearts suggested a five-card or longer suit, partner would often have raised directly with three-card support. Don't bid four hearts. Try three spades, showing a tolerance for that suit. Partner won't pass; your bidding has shown a good hand.