Today's declarer reminds me of the man who went to a psychiatrist, complaining that his memory was failing.

"How long have you had this problem?" asked the shrink.

"What problem?"

Against South's four hearts, West cashed two diamonds and led a third diamond. East threw a club, and South ruffed, took the A-K of clubs and ruffed his last club in dummy. South then led a trump to his queen. West took the king, and East later got a spade trick. Down one.

FIVE LOSERS

"You overbid," North protested. He was right since South had five possible losers and couldn't expect North to provide help for two of them.

Still, South would make the game if he remembered (from two minutes before) the auction and early play. West had promised five spades and four diamonds and had followed to three clubs. If West had 13 cards - a safe assumption - he could have only one heart, and South would surely lose a trump if East had the king. South's only chance was to play West for the bare king.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q J 9 7 3 H K D A K J 10 C 7 6 2. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade, he rebids two hearts and you try three diamonds. Partner then bids four clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: If your partner had a mildly distributional hand such as 8, A Q J 8 7 2, 8 7, K Q 10 5, he'd have bid 3NT at his third turn. His four clubs suggests minimum values and wild distribution such as 0-7-1-5. Bid four hearts. He may hold None, A J 10 8 7 6 3, Q, K J 10 5 4.