Mahatma Gandhi said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” For a bridge player, happiness is when what you think, what you bid, and what you play are in harmony.

Average players know the “rules” and follow them without asking themselves if that particular deal is an exception.

In today’s layout, many players sitting West would mis-defend because they would play first and think second – and kick themselves third!

South is in four spades after the given Stayman auction. West leads the club ace. What should happen after that?

Note the bidding. Yes, North, with so many quacks, might have raised one no-trump to three no-trump. But here that contract can be defeated if West guesses to lead the club ace and continue the suit from the top. (None of that fourth-highest rubbish!) However, with an unstopped doubleton, it is sensible for North to use Stayman. Then, when he rebids three no-trump over two hearts, South knows that his partner has four spades and corrects to game in that suit .

Many Wests would cash their second club trick, then wonder where to turn. At that point, their best move would be to feign a sudden illness and to flee the premises. When dummy comes down with three hearts, West should realize that his partner must be void in that suit. So, at trick two, West should shift to a heart. East ruffs and returns a club, then receives a second ruff for down one.