BECKER BRIDGE

Nobody rings a bell to let you know when a crucial point in the play has been reached. You're expected to recognize such situations when they arise; if you don't, a golden opportunity might pass you by. Furthermore, there is the added risk that an irate partner might have a few choice words for you when the deal is over.

Consider this case where West is defending against four spades. He cashes the K-A-Q of clubs, East following suit to the first club and then discarding a low heart and a low diamond on the next two clubs. What should West play next?

Actually, there is only one correct play -- another club! This allows East to trump with the jack, which in turn causes South to lose a trump trick and go down one.

Not many players would continue with a club at trick four. This is because such a play is contrary to standard procedure, which holds that one should avoid making a play that permits declarer to ruff in one hand and discard from the other. But this generally wise rule has its exceptions, just as any other general rule has its exceptions.

In the present case, it should not be difficult for West to work out, given South's opening bid and dummy's hand, that there is no chance of stopping the contract unless his side can score a trump trick. His best prospect, therefore, is to hope that East has the jack, queen or king of spades.

Accordingly, West leads a fourth round of clubs in the hope that East will be able to play one of those three cards on the trick. If East has none of them, the contract cannot be defeated, and West will at least get an A for effort.