I'm sure you know what to do if at first you don't succeed. (Cy the Cynic says that your best move is to lower your standards.) The problem some people have is that there is no "at first."

North-South reached a good six spades, and South won the first club with the ace, drew trumps and next let the ten of diamonds ride. East took the jack and returned a club, and South won, ruffed dummy's last club and tried another diamond finesse. East produced the king to beat the slam.

"I had a 75 percent chance," South grumbled.

LAST DIAMOND

South's play wasn't up to standard. After he wins the first trick, he should draw trumps, take the top hearts to pitch a diamond, and ruff a heart. When East-West follow suit, South leads a club to the king and ruffs a heart. He loses a diamond finesse with the queen but can later discard a diamond on the good fifth heart.

If South doesn't succeed with the hearts - if a defender shows out on the third heart - South can try the diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 2 H A K 6 5 2 D A Q 7 C K 7 2. You open one heart, your partner responds one spade, you jump to 2NT and he bids three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your 2NT showed about 19 points, balanced. Partner's three spades is forcing. He has an unbalanced hand with six spades or five good spades; he is concerned about notrump. Since your values are primary and your stopper in clubs is flimsy, don't insist on 3NT. Bid four spades.