A few years ago, an English newspaper printed an article titled "The A to Z of American Football." Since the first entry was Blitz, maybe the headline should have been amended slightly.

In bridge, the play runs from A to M. It is particularly important to pay attention to A.

In today's deal, how should South try to make three no-trump after West leads a fourth-highest diamond four?

In the auction, South might have rebid three clubs or three no-trump. It is a matter of personal preference.

South sort of starts with five top tricks: two hearts, one diamond and two clubs. The opening lead provides at least one more diamond trick, and if West has led from the king-10, declarer can take three diamond tricks. However, he must somehow establish and run the clubs. How can he do that?

South will have to overtake dummy's king with his ace and continue with the jack to drive out the queen. You've no doubt seen that play before. But what is South's re-entry card?

East might have the spade ace, but there is a guaranteed entry in diamonds ... unless declarer makes the mistake of running the first trick around to his hand.

With this layout South must win with dummy's diamond ace, overtake the club king with his ace, and play clubs from the top until the queen appears. Suppose then that East shifts to the heart queen. Declarer wins on the board and plays a diamond. He must end with two hearts, two diamonds and five clubs.

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