"My partner's game is pretty good - most of the time," a player told me in the lounge. "But every so often, he comes as totally unglued as a used postage stamp in a downpour."

My friend displayed today's deal. At six spades, South pitched a diamond on the ace of hearts. He drew trumps and cashed the A-K of clubs, expecting to lose one club but nothing else. When West discarded, South groaned and tried for his 12th trick by leading a diamond to his jack. West won, and South still had a club to lose.

12 TRICKS

South's eyes weren't quite glued to his goal. If he discards a club on the ace of hearts, he is sure of 12 tricks - six trumps, a heart, three diamonds and two clubs-even if he loses to the queen of diamonds.

In fact, South could still survive after his play to Trick One. He draws trumps, takes the A-K of diamonds, ruffs a diamond and cashes the A-K of clubs. When West discards, South discards a club on dummy's last diamond. West must concede a ruff-sluff.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S J 10 9 6 H A D K 6 5 2 C A K 7 5. Dealer, at your right, opens one heart. You double, your partner bids one spade and the opening bidder rebids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: If the opening bidder had passed, you might pass, treating your values as near a minimum. (A slightly better hand such as A J 10 9, 6, K 6 5 2, A K 7 5 would be worth a raise to two spades.) In a competitive auction, players are willing to stretch to act, hence bid two spades.