It had been a while since Signaling Sam had appeared at the club. Sam's obsession with defensive signals often leads to bizarre results - seldom in his favor.

West led the jack of hearts against 3NT, and Sam, East, followed with the deuce. South won and swiftly led the king of diamonds. West played low, and Sam furnished the eight, a "count" signal to suggest a doubleton. On the second diamond, West played low again.

Declarer then led a third diamond, and Sam signaled emphatically with the ten of spades. West won and obediently led a spade, but after Sam took the queen, ace and nine, South's eight was high. Making three.

SETTING TRICK

Sam signaled with the setting trick. His deuce of hearts had discouraged in hearts. On the third diamond, all he had to do was pitch the deuce of clubs, showing a distaste for clubs.

West would understand and lead a spade - a shift was surely vital when dummy had good diamonds to cash — and Sam would run the spades for down two.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A Q 10 9 2 H 5 3 2 D 8 3 C 9 7 2. Your partner opens one heart, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: To bid one spade is appealing, but if partner next bid two of a minor, a return to two hearts would show a doubleton heart, not three-card support, and might cause him to misevaluate. (If his second bid were 1NT, a bid of two hearts would suggest more strength.) Raise to two hearts, limiting your strength and confirming an eight-card trump fit.