Today's deal arose at the ACBL Fall Championships in Seattle in November. In the Senior Knockout Teams, Mark Feldman found himself at six spades after East had climbed in with a heart bid. (Some of North-South's bids were artificial.)

West led the ten of hearts, and Feldman won and cashed the Q-J of trumps. When East discarded, declarer appeared to have a serious problem: He needed to ruff a loser before drawing trumps, but he couldn't ruff a heart. And assuming he was able to take dummy's top diamonds and ruff a diamond, he then wouldn't have the entries to lead twice toward his K-Q of clubs.

LAST DIAMOND

With little choice, Feldman cashed the A-K-Q of diamonds. He ruffed dummy's last diamond and took A-K of trumps. East had room for four cards. He had to keep two hearts, else South would score a third heart trick. So East had to throw two clubs, baring the A-J.

Feldman then discarded his low heart and led a club from dummy. He lost one club and made the slam. Well done!

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A K 7 6 H J 4 D A K Q 4 C 7 5 3. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade, he rebids two hearts and you try three diamonds. Partner rebids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: If partner has 5 4, A K Q 10 7 6 2, 7 3 2, Q, you can make slam. If he has 5 4, A K Q 10 7 6 2, 7, Q 4 2, you must settle for game. A raise to five hearts would ask him to bid slam with a club control, but in a money game I'd bid four hearts and take a sure profit.