William R. Alger, a Unitarian minister whose writings helped to develop comparative religious studies and who died in 1905, said, "After every storm, the sun will smile; for every problem, there is a solution; and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer."

This deal was used in last Thursday's column. South is in three no-trump. West leads the club three, which is covered by the six, jack and king. Now West cannot tell who holds the club queen. So, when declarer crosses to dummy with a heart and takes the losing diamond finesse, West does not know whether to continue clubs (assuming his partner holds the queen) or to shift to the spade seven (top of nothing), hoping his partner can win with the ace and lead a club through South's queen.

Is there a solution?

Well, yes, there is: the Smith Echo. It was devised by an Englishman, I.G. Smith.

When there is ambiguity at trick one in a no-trump contract, third hand tries to clarify at trick two. Unless he must make a forced play, like winning the trick or giving count, he plays an unnecessarily high card when he is stronger than he might be in the suit led at trick one. So, in this deal, when East plays the heart three, he denies the club queen, and West knows to shift to a spade. But if East had the club queen, he would follow suit with the heart 10 at trick two.

It is clever, but occurs rarely and needs careful discussion with partner.

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