Virginia Gildersleeve was the only American woman at the 1945 San Francisco conference that created the United Nations. She said, "The ability to think straight, some knowledge of the past, some vision of the future, some skill to do useful service, some urge to fit that service into the well-being of the community -- these are the most vital things education must try to produce."

At the bridge table, it is important to think straight, to remember the past bids and plays, and to have some idea of what you plan to do. In this deal, how should South play in two spades? West leads the club ace, cashes the club king, and plays another club.

South, with five top losers (two hearts, one diamond and two clubs), needs to find the spade queen to get home.

Declarer must remember that neither opponent could open the bidding. And South has already seen seven points from West. However, before guessing how to play the trump suit, declarer should explore for more data. He should play on the red suits to learn who holds those honors. Then he will be sure to know who has the spade queen.

At trick four, South leads a heart. Let's assume East takes that trick and shifts to a low diamond. Declarer wins with his king and plays another heart. East wins and cashes his diamond ace. Who has the spade queen?

Since East has produced 11 points, it must be West.

Remember the passes as well as the bids, and count those high-card points.

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