This week's deals treat the play of card combinations in a single suit. For instance, with A-J-10-4-3-2 opposite 5, the best play for four tricks is to cash the ace and lead low.

When you face a suit-combo problem, Murphy's Law applies. (You'll remember to take out the garbage when the truck is leaving the house next door, etc.) At today's 6NT, South took the king of spades and cashed the ace of clubs - and groaned when West ungraciously discarded. South could take only four club tricks and only 11 tricks in all.

"Whatever can go wrong, will," South mumbled.

SECOND CLUB

South mismanaged the club suit. He should start by leading low to dummy's king and, if East-West follow, a second club to his ace. South can't reasonably bring in the clubs if West has J-x-x-x, but if East turns up with J-x-x-x, South can return a spade to dummy and finesse with the ten next.

The correct play gains when East has all five missing clubs. South can pick up East's J-8-6-5-3 with two finesses.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 10 9 8 5 2 H 10 7 6 4 D K 10 8 5 C None. Your partner opens one spade, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: At any vulnerability, jump to four spades. Whether partner will take 10 tricks is anyone's guess. Even if he has a minimum hand such as A K 7 6 3, 3 2, A 7, 8 7 6 5, he may take 11. But if partner's hand is weakish, the opponents may be cold for game at hearts or clubs, and your jump will also make it hard for them to judge their prospects.