QUICK CROSSWORD

Edward G. BulwerLytton, a 19th- century English author who coined the phrases “the great unwashed,” “pursuit of the almighty dollar,” “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and the well- known opening line “It was a dark and stormy night,” said, “In science, read, by preference, the newest works; in literature, the oldest. The classic literature is always modern.”

In bridge, if you cannot make an encouraging signal or discard to tell partner which suit to lead, try to help him with a suitpreference play. However, I will admit that this is advanced defense, not made any easier by requiring both you and your partner to watch all of the cards like a pair of hawks. But if you do, suddenly you will be defeating contracts making before.

This deal highlights two ways to achieve the desired end.

Against four spades, West leads the club king: three, two, ace. What happens after that?

South would have done well to rebid three notrump. North, despite four- card support, would surely have passed with such a soft hand, and that contract would have made easily.

Suppose declarer draws trumps immediately. East should follow eight- sixfivetwo, always playing his highest spade to show interest in hearts, the higher- ranking of the two red suits. Then, when South plays his second club toward dummy's jack, West goes in with the queen, and East should drop the nine. The that were higher remaining club again signals for hearts. With luck, partner is watching.

South does better to return his club six at trick two. Again, East must drop the nine. Copyright United Feature Syndicate ( Asia Features)