A poor excuse is like an old bucket. Nobody cares what kind of shape it's in as long as it holds water.

In today's deal, West led the six of spades against 3NT, and when South saw dummy, he maintained a look of unconcern. East put up the ten, and South followed with the nine.

East promptly returned a spade, and South looked even more unconcerned. He took the A-K of spades and discarded dummy's A-K of clubs. South then ran six club tricks and rounded out the contract with the ace of hearts.

BLOCKED

"Lead anything except a spade at the second trick and he goes down," West grumbled.

"To return your lead was automatic," East snorted. Did his excuse hold water?

Assuming West's six was his fourth-highest spade and South hadn't played an unlikely falsecard, East knew that South had two more spades higher than his nine. If they were the A-Q or K-Q, South would have won the first trick. So South held the A-K, and since he had bid clubs, I think East might have diagnosed South's problem.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 3 H A J 7 6 2 D K 10 7 3 2 C A K. Your partner opens one diamond, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: A minimum for partner such as A 8 5, 4, A Q 9 8 6, Q 7 6 2 will make seven diamonds all but cold, hence you should tell him now that slam is likely and elicit his cooperation. Jump-shift to two hearts, planning to support the diamonds next. An immediate jump will help keep you out of a losing slam if partner holds K Q 4, 4 3, A Q 8 6, Q 7 6 5.