"This game is too tough," Cy the Cynic growled. "First you tell me my aces are too valuable to give up. Then you say they're too dangerous to keep."

In a money game, Cy had ace trouble on two deals in a row. Today's deal was the first. As West, Cy led a spade against four hearts. South won, ruffed his last spade in dummy and led the jack of trumps.

The Cynic took his ace and looked for something good to do next. He finally led a diamond.

LAST TRUMP

South won with the queen and drew trumps. He led a diamond to dummy and let the jack of clubs ride. Cy took the queen and led a spade, but South ruffed, lost a club to the ace, ruffed Cy's spade return with his last trump and claimed. Making four.

"Hold up your ace," I told Cy. "You win the second trump and lead a spade, and declarer must ruff in his hand. When he draws trumps and starts the clubs, you take the queen and lead a spade to force out his last trump. He never wins a club trick."

Tomorrow: a dangerous ace.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 10 8 7 4 H A 8 2 D 9 5 C A Q 5. You open one spade, and your partner bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your most descriptive action is a raise to three hearts. It is permissible - indeed, desirable - to raise partner's response with three-card support here since he promises at least five hearts. With fewer hearts, he would find a different response - even a temporizing response in a three-card minor.