I've heard it said that you can't wait around for inspiration; you have to go after it with a club.

In today's deal, West led a low spade against 3NT. South played low from dummy, and East took the queen and returned the nine to dummy's ace.

South then started the hearts - he couldn't succeed without heart tricks -- but West took the king and led the king and a fourth spade to South's jack. South still had only seven top tricks, and when he led a second heart, West produced the ace and cashed his fifth spade for down one.

HIGH HEARTS

To make 3NT, South needs inspiration -- in spades. West, who overcalled vulnerable, probably has both the A-K of hearts. Then South's only chance is to find East with a doubleton spade honor.

South must play the ace on the first spade, hoping to block the suit. When he leads a heart next, West can win and lead a spade to East's queen. But then East must shift, and South has time to force out West's other high heart for nine tricks.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 3 H Q J 8 7 6 D 8 6 3 C K J 7. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two hearts and he bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: You surely have a game - your partner's "high reverse" shows extra strength -but you have no descriptive second bid. A bid of three hearts would suggest longer hearts, 3NT would promise a diamond stopper, four clubs would show four-card support. Try three spades or a meaningless "fourth-suit" bid of three diamonds.