Nobody was stealing anything from today's West. Against South's slam, West led a heart. South won with the jack and promptly led the nine of diamonds. West dashed up with his ace and led another heart, and South won, drew trumps and claimed 12 tricks: five trumps, four hearts, two diamonds and a club.

"I knew declarer had a singleton diamond," West said. "He wouldn't have used Blackwood unless he had a diamond control. If I don't take my ace, I lose it."

NOT TWO

West should let South steal. If West plays low on the first diamond, South gets one diamond trick but not two. South could still succeed with good guessing (catching West in a "strip squeeze") but will probably go down.

South's actual play worked well. His alternative was to draw trumps, run the hearts to discard his losing diamond, and hope for a lucky position in clubs.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A K Q J 10 H A J 3 D 9 C Q 5 4 2. You open one spade, and your partner bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: The hand has too many losers to jump to four spades. The jack of trumps is not a significant high-card point. Bid three clubs, asking partner to judge game prospects based on his holding in your second suit. He'll jump to four spades with 9 6 5, 10 7 6, J 6 5 4, A K 7 but sign off at three spades with 9 6 5, K 10 7, K J 6 5, J 7 6.