Maybe you've heard of the Law of Fatal Irreversibility. It states that when you're cleaning out your junk and discard something you haven't used in 10 years, you'll need it a week later.

"It's no wonder I went down at this slam," a club player told me. "I always discard the wrong thing."

At six hearts, he drew trumps and let the queen of spades ride. West won and returned a spade, and South next led a trump to dummy and had to judge what to discard on the jack of spades.

FINESSE

"I threw the queen of clubs," South said, "and later finessed with the jack of diamonds. Down one. When I saw East's hand, I wanted my queen of clubs back."

South might have done better to pitch a diamond on the jack of spades, then cash the A-K of diamonds. If the queen didn't fall, he could finesse in clubs. But South's best play would be to continue by ruffing a diamond. When the queen fell, he could return a trump to dummy and discard the queen of clubs on the good diamond.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 7 5 H 8 7 D 8 7 2 C J 9 7 6 5. The dealer, at your left, opens one spade. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Although you have balanced distribution and a spade stopper, your hand isn't strong enough for a bid of 1NT, which would show six to nine points. Bid two clubs. When you must respond to a takeout double with a weak hand, look for a trump suit so your hand will produce a few winners.