"The man's a magician," Cy the Cynic wailed. Cy was speaking of Ed, the club expert.

"He overbids," Cy said, "but he also overplays the dummy."

Ed was South in a duplicate game, and Cy was West.

"I led the king of clubs," the Cynic told me. "What result would you expect?"

"Making five," I said hesitantly. "Ed can infer from the bidding that you have Q-x-x of trumps, but he can't pick up your queen plus ruff both of his low spades in dummy."

CLUB RUFFS

Ed ruffed the first club and led the king of diamonds. Cy won and returned a diamond, and Ed took the jack and queen, ruffed a club and led a trump to the jack. He ruffed a club, took the A-K of spades, ruffed a spade and ruffed a fourth club at the 11th trick.

Dummy had the king of trumps and a club, and Ed had the ace of trumps and a spade. Cy had the Q-10 of trumps, but Ed crossruffed for the last two tricks. Making six, handing Cy a bottom score on the deal.

"It's a wonder he didn't bid six," Cy growled.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 8 3 H Q 10 5 D A 10 7 C A K J 10. You open 1NT, and your partner responds two hearts, a transfer. You duly bid two spades, and he tries three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: If you think partner forgot your methods and really has hearts, pass (unless you have information, such as a remark he made, that you're not entitled to). If you think he has spades and hearts, bid four spades or cue-bid four clubs. You have spade support and useful values.