If you ask Cy the Cynic for a definition of "once," he'll say "enough." Like all of us, Cy encounters deals he hopes he'll never see again.

Cy was declarer at six spades, and West led the queen of clubs. Cy took the king and tried to draw trumps with the A-K. When West discarded a diamond, the Cynic next cashed the A-K of diamonds and ruffed a diamond in dummy. Alas, East overruffed, and Cy's last diamond was a loser. Down one.

How would you play the slam?

DIAMOND RUFF

Cy's philosophy is that you only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough. Nevertheless, he didn't work it right in this deal. Cy can cash the ace of trumps at Trick Two, but when both defenders follow, he takes the ace of diamonds, leads a heart to dummy, returns a diamond to his king and ruffs a diamond with the king of trumps.

Cy can then ruff a heart and ruff his last diamond low in dummy. East can overruff, but Cy wins the return, draws the missing trump with the queen and claims.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 3 2 H A 6 3 2 D 6 3 C 6 5 3 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: Most partnerships treat opener's non-jump change of suit as not forcing (though a few play this particular sequence as forcing). You have no attractive bid, and to pass would be reasonable. Since the hand has two useful honors, and game is barely possible, I'd try 1NT to keep chances alive.