Denis Waitley, a motivational speaker, said, "Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now."

That is great advice for bridge players. Remember what you learned from previous play, set your goal for the present deal, and work out how to succeed now -- not afterward.

In today's deal, how should South play in four hearts after West cashes his three top diamonds, then shifts to a club?

South's three-heart jump-rebid showed at least six hearts and some seven winners. This converts to 15 or 16 high-card points (or a very good 14 or a poor 17). North thought about rebidding three no-trump, but was persuaded by the lack of a diamond stopper to raise to four hearts.

South must play the trump suit without loss. He has three possible lines of play: a.) cash the ace and king; b.) cash the ace, then finesse on the second round; c.) finesse immediately.

The first option wins over the second only when West has queen-doubleton and loses when East has queen-third or (versus line three) queen-fourth. It is more successful than line three when West has a singleton or doubleton queen. Line two is better than three only when West has a singleton queen. Line three wins when East has queen-fourth of hearts.

If you do the math, line three is the best overall. In particular, West will have a low singleton four times more often than a singleton queen.

The exact a priori figures are 32.8 percent for a; 39.6 percent for b; and 48 percent for c.

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