In this week's deals, I've tried to help you improve your powers of guessing. Cover today's East-West cards and try your luck at four hearts.

West, who overcalled in spades, leads the king against your game, and you're relieved when East follows with the nine under dummy's ace. When you lead a trump at the second trick, East plays the three. What's your guess with your K-J-10-9-8? (You have no more entries to dummy.)

The actual declarer figured that West, who had bid, was likely to have the ace. So declarer "guessed" to finesse with the jack. West took the queen and cashed two spades, and East got his ace of trumps. Down one.

NO GUESS

It should be easier to guess right when no guess is involved. South must realize that the contract will be unmakable if East has Q-3 (or A-Q-3) in trumps. If West has A-2, he can cash two spades, then lead a fourth spade to let East overruff dummy.

South must put up his king on the first heart, hoping East has A-3 or A-3-2.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 9 H A 3 D 7 6 5 4 2 C 8 5 4 3 2. With neither side vulnerable, your partner deals and opens one diamond, and the next player doubles. What do you say?

ANSWER: A raise to two diamonds would be safe enough but would do little to impede the opponents' search for a possible game in a major suit. Jump to three diamonds, showing a shapely hand with good support but little high-card strength. With a good hand, you could start with a redouble.