QUICK CROSSWORD

Sam Ewing, a former professional baseball player, said, "Hard work spotlights the character of people: Some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses and some don't turn up at all."

At the bridge table, those who turn up their sleeves spotlight the useful spot- cards that they have and use them to advantage. How does that apply in this deal? South is in four hearts. West leads the club ace, then shifts to his singleton trump.

Opening in no- trump with a six- card major is wrong, in my opinion. However, it did silence East- West. Note that five clubs doubled is down only one, an unusually profitable adverse- vulnerability sacrifice.

The original declarer crossed to dummy with a trump at trick three and led the spade two: jack, queen, king. Then West, guided by his partner's excellent play, returned a spade. A moment later, West got in with the diamond ace and led another spade to give the defenders four tricks: one club, one diamond and two spades.

South should have started on diamonds, where he has good spot- cards. After the club ace, a heart to the ace and a heart to the four, declarer plays a diamond to his king. If West wins, he is endplayed; so he ducks smoothly. South continues with the diamond jack. West takes that trick and has to return his last low diamond.

Declarer should win with dummy's queen, then, when East discards, lead the fourth diamond and pitch his spade three. Now West is endplayed, forced either to lead away from the spade king or to concede a ruff- and- sluff.