Cy the Cynic says that people always seem to lack the time to do something right - but they always have time to do it over. That approach won't work at bridge: You get one shot at your contract.

Today's West led the ten of hearts against 3NT, and South played low from dummy and won with his queen. He next let the ten of diamonds ride. East won and returned his last heart: jack, king, ace. When South led another diamond, West produced the ace - and three more hearts. Down one.

STOPPERS

Let's see if South can get it right the second time. South has two heart stoppers, but since he may have to lose the lead twice to set up the diamonds, he should consider a hold-up play. He lets West's ten of hearts win.

South wins the next heart with the jack and loses a diamond finesse, but East has no more hearts. (If he had one, South could lose only two hearts and two diamonds.) If East leads a club, South can grab the ace and force out the ace of diamonds to assure the contract.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 8 H K 10 9 8 2 D A 6 5 C K 6 5. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts, he rebids two spades and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner seems to have six spades, four diamonds and minimum values. If his pattern were, say, 5-1-4-3, he'd have no cause to disturb 2NT. Bid three spades. With J 8, A 10 9 8 2, Q 6 5, A 6 5 you could jump to four spades, but as it is, one of your kings may be worthless.

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