Fletcher Knebel, an author of political fiction who died in 1993, said, “Smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics.”

When you play bridge, keeping some statistics is not a bad idea. In a duplicate, for example, note how many times your opponents are going down. If a lot, you are not doubling enough. When you are on opening lead, how often do you make the best start? You must treat this one carefully, because some “best opening leads” are hard to find.

You are West, on lead after that Stayman auction. Which card would you choose?

From the auction you learned that dummy has four spades. Without a major, he wouldn’t have used Stayman; and with four hearts, he would have raised his partner’s suit.

However, it is probably best to lead a spade, despite dummy’s having four. You hope partner has a useful doubleton; preferably kingor ace-doubleton, but tendoubleton might be enough.

The layout of your dreams exists in this deal. But note that you must “forget” the textbook advice to lead the top of three touching honors. If you choose the queen, you irreparably block the suit.

When an opponent is known to have four-card length, lead fourth-highest; here, the three.

Presumably declarer will play low from the dummy. Your partner will win with his king and return the suit. Since declarer cannot get nine tricks without playing on diamonds, you defeat the contract.

Finally, note that if a psychic declarer calls for dummy’s ace at trick one, hope partner unblocks the king. If he does, sign him up as your bridge partner for life.