At the bridge table, one wishes that all wisdom isn't summed up in two words -- play and hope. Yes, you will often be hoping for the best, but ideally you find a 100 percent line of play or defense.

Michel de Montaigne, a 16th-century French essayist who was well-known for combining intellectual exercises with casual anecdotes, said, “In nine lifetimes, you’ll never know as much about your cat as your cat knows about you.”

In today’s deal, though, South’s problem is which suit to dig at first.

Groucho Marx said, “A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.” Not a superstitious man, he. And bridge is not a game for the superstitious, with its 13-card hands and 13-trick deals. To get from one hand to the other, you often have to be careful with your cards. How does that apply in this deal?

At the bridge table, do not judge a deal totally from your first glance; give it a second look to check that you have not missed something. So, have a second slice of toast this morning. South is in four spades. West leads the heart king and continues with the heart queen. How should declarer plan the play?

what would you respond? The first question is: Does your partnership use transfers into the minors? If you do, you should go via that route, perhaps responding two spades. (And then two clubs followed by three clubs would show a four-card major, long clubs and at least enough points for game.)

What does it mean if, after opener begins with one no-trump, responder bids two clubs, Stayman, then rebids three of a minor?

One guesses that plans might have been drawn first. However, a bridge contract will have more chance of success if declarer has two ways to get home and is able to try them both — as in this deal.

Bridge players do not need to practice that often — but it would be beneficial if they did.