It's the start that stops most people - especially in dummy play. You need a plan before you play a card.

Today's West led a diamond against 3NT, and South finessed with dummy's queen - and was stopped as soon as he started. East took the king and found the killing shift to a spade. (South was likely to have four diamonds since he hadn't bid a major suit or raised clubs.)

South won the third spade and tried a heart finesse for his ninth trick. East produced the king and cashed two more spades. Down two.

THREE DIAMONDS

South didn't like North's 3NT bid; South thought North should have looked for game at clubs or hearts. But South's play was wrong. South must take the first diamond with the ace. No matter how the diamonds lie, South can lose no more than three diamond tricks if the defenders regain the lead.

South leads a club to his hand and returns a heart to the queen. East wins, and the defense takes the king, nine and jack of diamonds, but South has the rest.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 6 2 H A Q 7 4 D A Q C A Q J 6 5. You open one club, your partner responds one spade, you bid two hearts and he returns to three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your two hearts was a "reverse" and promised extra strength (in some styles, game-going strength). Your partner may simply have a weak hand and a preference for clubs, but he isn't expecting you to pass. Bid 3NT. If he happens to have a good hand, he can bid again.