"My husband and I have been partners for 20 years," a club player told me, "long enough for me to learn the definition of an argument: It's when he's right and I haven't realized it yet."

My friend and her husband were East-West.

"He led the three of clubs. I knew it was a singleton, so I took the ace and returned the four. My husband ruffed, but South won his diamond switch and let the queen of trumps ride. I won and led another club, but South ruffed high, drew trumps and claimed.

"My hubby said I'd misdefended, and when I argued, all I got was a pitying look. What did I miss now?"

FOURTH TRICK

East can see a club, a club ruff and a trump but needs a fourth trick. East has no worries if West has an ace, but if West's only high card is the king of spades, East must lead a spade at Trick Two. Since East has a fast re-entry in trumps, West's club ruff can wait.

How does East know West has the king of spades? She doesn't but must so assume; otherwise, her play is moot.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 9 4 H A 10 6 D 3 C K Q J 8 7 2. You open one club, the next player overcalls one heart and your partner bids one spade. The player at your right passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner is likely to have five or more spades. (If you use negative doubles, he promises five since he could make a negative double to show a four-card spade holding.) Raise to two spades. A rebid of two clubs wouldn't aim toward your most likely game.