Aime Cesaire, a poet, author and politician from Martinique, said, "Reason, I sacrifice you to the evening breeze." Bridge players must try never to sacrifice reason. But there can be a good reason to sacrifice -- you may suffer a smaller loss.

In today's deal, how would East have done in four hearts and what should happen in four spades doubled?

West did not want to pass over one spade, but her hand was not strong enough for two diamonds or suitable, in her partnership, for three diamonds. So she passed. However, when East reopened with a takeout double, West correctly jumped to three diamonds. East then wondered about five and six diamonds, but sensibly went for the 10-trick heart game.

If that had been passed out, East would probably have lost one spade and one heart to come home with an overtrick for plus 650.

When South bid an undisciplined four spades, West happily doubled. She led the diamond ace and cashed the diamond king. What should she have done next?

Where were East's points for his strong bidding? He had to have good clubs. So West should have shifted to that suit, which would have resulted in down four, plus 800. But West actually led the diamond jack at trick three. South ruffed, drew trumps (discarding two hearts from the board), and ducked a heart to East. Endplayed, he could take only two hearts and two clubs for down three, plus 500. So the sacrifice gained, but it was a close-run thing.

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