When I watched today's deal, North-South were a dentist and a manicurist we call "Tooth and Nail": That's how they argue.

When West overcalled one spade, Tooth passed, and Nail tried 3NT. West led the king of spades, and Nail took the ace and counted one spade, three hearts and four diamonds. She led a club, but West grabbed his ace and ran the spades. Down one.

Let's listen to the argument:

FIVE CLUBS

Tooth: "Why leap to 3NT with A-6 in spades? We could make five clubs. Take your time. Bid two clubs or cue-bid two spades."

Nail: "Why would I bid clubs with 9-7-6-2? I had a balanced 15 points and made the obvious bid. If you bid clubs - maybe you should open one club - we'd find our club fit."

Nobody noticed that 3NT was cold. After South takes the ace of spades, she runs the diamonds. West can discard one club but is stuck on the fourth diamond. If West throws a heart, South wins four heart tricks. If he throws a spade, South safely forces out the ace of clubs.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 6 H A K 7 2 D A 8 4 C 9 7 6 2. Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: Most experts would try to solve this difficult problem by relying on instinct. An overcall of 1NT might be doubled and beaten if partner is broke. A double might induce him to bid too many spades. After a bid of one heart, he might compete too high in hearts. I would pass and hope to act later, but any action might work.