In “The Mysteries of Udolpho,” Ann Radcliffe, an English author who died in 1823, wrote, “A wellinformed mind is the best security against the contagion of folly and of vice. The vacant mind is ever on the watch for relief, and ready to plunge into error, to escape from the languor of idleness.”

A bridge player should never have a vacant mind or think that he might plunge into error. But sometimes one can have a false sense of security. Do not jump to conclusions; think longer to see if there is a better line available.

In this deal, how should South play in six diamonds after West leads the spade queen?

On the second round of the auction, South was a smidgen strong for three diamonds, but a tad weak to rebid three no-trump (which would have promised about another king).

South has 11 top winners: one spade, two hearts, seven diamonds and one club. He needs two club tricks. Also, given that West led dummy’s suit, not the club king, it seems unlikely that he has both club honors, and so one of the two club finesses will work. However, a declarer who knows about elimination and endplay will see that no finesses are needed.

South wins with dummy’s spade ace, ruffs a spade in his hand (key play), leads a trump to dummy’s 10, ruffs another spade, plays a diamond to dummy’s ace, ruffs the last spade, cashes his heart ace, and leads a heart to the king. With the trumps drawn and majors eliminated, declarer plays a club to his 10. West wins the trick but is endplayed.