All in One Basket

A basket case is not what you use to display your basket collection, but the term describes South's play in today's deal - and maybe his state of mind afterward.

At four hearts, South took his ace of spades and drew trumps. He next cashed his high diamonds, hoping for a favorable split. When West discarded, South could win nine tricks and no more.

South's play was a case of putting all his eggs in one leaky basket: A 3-3 diamond break was against the odds. South may do better to take only two trumps, then start the diamonds. He would survive if the defender with the missing trump had three or more diamonds.

BEST CHANCE

South's best chance is to lead a club to dummy's queen at Trick Two. If East wins and innocently returns a spade, South can reverse the dummy: ruff, trump to dummy, spade ruff, trump to dummy, spade ruff.

South can then return to the king of diamonds to draw the last missing trump. He wins two more tricks - 10 in all - with the A-Q of diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A H A Q J 8 5 D A Q 6 2 C 7 5 2. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts, he rebids two spades and you try three diamonds. Partner then bids 3NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: This began as a promising hand, but it has gone downhill. You seem to lack the high-card values for slam and have no good trump fit as compensation. Partner may have no help for either of your long suits, and transportation may be a problem, even at game. Pass.