"It's the most vexing card combination I know," a club player said to me, citing the North-South hearts in today's deal.

"I feel like that with 11 cards I ought to pick up the king every time," he said, "but it's about an even-money bet whether to finesse or play for the drop -- and I always go wrong."

Playing at six hearts, my friend took the ace of clubs and cashed the ace of trumps. When West discarded, South led a spade to the king and finessed with his jack. Down one.

100 PERCENT

The odds narrowly favor playing to drop the king of trumps, but South has a 100 percent play. He can lead a diamond to the ace at Trick Two, pitch a spade on the king of clubs and ruff a club. He goes to the king of spades and leads a trump, finessing when East plays low.

When the finesse wins, South is safe, but if West had the king, South would still be sure of a 12th trick. West would have to lead a spade to South's A-J, lead a diamond to set up a trick in dummy, or concede a ruff-sluff.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 6 4 H Q 8 7 5 D A Q 10 C K 7 5. Your partner opens one spade, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: The classical response was 2NT, showing a balanced 13 to 15 points, but players now use "limit" jump raises and treat a 2NT response as an artificial forcing raise. Some players would jump to 3NT; others would temporize with a response of two clubs. You must agree with your partner what your methods will be.