Two weeks ago, Cy the Cynic asked me to remind you - and I'm sorry I've neglected to do so before now - that National Procrastination Day was August 10.

Procrastination has its benefits, especially at the bridge table, but today's declarer lost a laydown game because he wouldn't wait to draw trumps. When West led the ten of diamonds against four hearts, South won with the queen and immediately led a trump. East took the king and returned a diamond, and South won and led another trump. Alas, West won, led a spade to East's ace and ruffed the diamond return for down one.

MORE IMPORTANT

It was the old story: South started the trumps when he had something more important to do first. If South foresees the danger, he'll procrastinate by leading a spade to dummy's king at the second trick.

East wins and returns a diamond, but South takes the ace and discards his last diamond on the queen of spades. He then leads a trump safely, losing a spade and two trumps but no diamond ruff.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K Q 6 H Q 8 6 2 D A 6 5 2 C K Q. You open 1NT, your partner responds three hearts, you raise to four hearts and he bids five clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner's five clubs is an ace-showing cue bid to try for slam. Since you have good heart support and controls in both unbid suits, your hand is worth a jump to six hearts. You may stop off to cue-bid five diamonds. If partner then cue-bids five spades, you may have a grand slam.