QUICK CROSSWORD

Neil Peart, a Canadian musician who is best known as the drummer and primary lyricist for the rock band Rush, wrote, “If you choose not to decide — you still have made a choice!”

So true — but if you refuse to decide at the bridge table, you kill the game. In today's deal, two players have choices to make. First, East. After West passes, and North opens one club, should East enter the auction, and if so, with what?

Assuming East overcalls one spade, what should South respond?

At the table, East did intervene with one spade. In general, I like showing a five- card major as quickly as possible. Here, though, because West is a passed hand, East- West probably do not have a game, and the spade suit is so weak. I lean toward a takeout double or pass.

Over one spade, South might bid a natural, game- invitational two notrump, or cue- bid two spades to show club support with at least gameinvitational strength. The singleton heart is a nod against two no- trump, but two spades could work badly if partner has, say, a minimum 3= 4= 3= 3 with no spade stopper.

Here, showing club support probably would lead to five clubs. This can be made, but, especially if East leads a low heart, North is likely to misguess spades and go down.

At the table, South bid two no- trump, and North raised to three no- trump. West led the spade ace: three, two, five. Trusting East's discouraging signal, West shifted to a diamond. East won with his ace and returned the eight, covered by the 10 and queen. When West continued with another diamond, South claimed 10 tricks: one spade, one heart, two diamonds and six clubs. Copyright United Feature Syndicate

( Asia Features)