The membership of the American Contract Bridge League, whose chief activity is tournament administration, amounts to only about 1 percent of all U.S. players. Most readers of newspaper bridge columns are casual players, and columnists must take care to avoid too many complex play themes and inexplicable bidding.

Today's play problem is a breather. Against your 3NT, West leads the six of diamonds, won by dummy's king. How do you play for nine tricks?

NINTH TRICK

Four rounds of clubs would force the defenders to discard, but suppose you decide to try straightaway for your ninth trick in a major suit. If you're confident of your guessing powers, you might lead a club to your hand, return a spade toward dummy and guess whether to play the king or the jack.

For an extra chance, start by taking the A-K of hearts. If no ten or queen appeared, you'd be back to guessing. But when the ten falls from East, you continue hearts and set up a third heart trick to assure your game.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 5 4 H J 9 5 2 D A 7 5 C K Q J 6. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: This is a textbook example of responder's obligation at his second turn: Before the auction goes any further, he wants to bid the limit of his strength. If possible, he wants to place the contract or suggest a contract. Bid 2NT, showing about 11 points with balanced or semibalanced pattern and strength in the unbid suit.