A clear map helps the declarer

Gail Pool, a writer and critic who specializes in travel, said, "Even with the best of maps and instruments, we can never fully chart our journeys."

That is true at the bridge table. Even when an opponent has made a bid that helps you place the missing cards, you will not always be sure where everything lies ... but sometimes you will.

In today's deal, South was in four hearts. West led the club ace and continued with the club king. What did declarer do?

West made a Michaels Cue-Bid, showing at least 5-5 in spades and either minor. After East advanced with two spades, South had too many points to pass, so he doubled, hoping for the best.

North, who had promised nothing, held three trumps, a singleton and a potential source of tricks, so he bravely jumped to four hearts. (Two spades goes down one if South gets a club ruff.)

South could see nine winners: three spades, four hearts and two diamonds. The obvious place for an extra trick was to ruff the spade four on the board.

Declarer ruffed the club king, cashed his spade ace, ruffed the spade four and played a trump. East ducked the first round, took the second round and played another club to tap South. However, declarer happily ruffed, cashed his last heart, then played his top spades.

When the last was led, East had no defense. If he had discarded, South would have cashed his two diamond winners for 10 in all. But when East ruffed, he had to lead away from the diamond queen, giving declarer three tricks in that suit. West's overcall had provided a perfect map.