"You should be nicer to your partners," I told Grapefruit, our member who owns and operates an acid disposition. "Good partners don't grow on trees."

"Most of my partners swing from them," Grapefruit growled.

As West, Grapefruit led a passive nine of spades against 3NT, dummy played low and East put in the ten. South took the king and lost a club finesse. East shifted to the ten of hearts, but South took the ace and ran his winners. He made an overtrick, and Grapefruit told East that if he had a brain transplant, the brain would reject him.

"I saved a trick by not grabbing my ace of spades," East flung back.

GOOD HEARTS

East was shortsighted. He can count five club tricks for South, plus at least two diamonds (surely South has a diamond honor, based on the bidding and West's opening lead) and a spade. If South has good hearts, 3NT is unbeatable.

East must take his ace of spades and shift to the ten of hearts. The defense gets a spade, a club and three hearts.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 6 4 H A Q 5 2 D K Q 10 C 9 7 3. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: Expert opinion would vary. Some experts would double, a few would overcall one heart and others would borrow a point or two and try 1NT. In my opinion, the hand is better suited to defense, especially since it has strength in the opening bidder's suit. I'd pass. If the opening bid were one club, I'd be more apt to double.