BAD THINGS DO NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN

It is easy to get negative at the bridge table. Because a key finesse loses on one deal does not mean they will all lose. Do not assume that everything will work out badly.

Look at today's South hand. After two passes, would you open one spade or pass?

What might go wrong? Partner may respond two diamonds. Then you will need to find an excuse to leave the table; perhaps you left the oven on! You will have to pass, letting partner struggle in a 5-1 (or 4-1!) fit. (He rates not to have six diamonds, because he did not open with a weak two.)

However, maybe partner won't make that response. In this deal, he actually responds two clubs, the Drury convention promising a maximum pass with three or more spades. Then you can quietly rebid two spades, showing no game interest, and a well-trained partner will trust you and pass, despite his singleton and potential source of diamond tricks.

At the table, West found the best lead of a trump. What would you do?

The simplest approach is to go after these eight tricks: five spades, two clubs and one heart ruff. Win the first trick on the board and run the heart 10. Suppose West wins and plays another trump. Take it in hand, ruff a heart, play a club to your ace, draw the missing trump and give up a club.

If instead you lead the diamond 10 from hand at trick two, you must duck in the dummy if West does not cover with the jack. Then you must lead the king to squash West's jack. That is much tougher.