New York City. The Bucket of Blood Bridge Club. Broadway and 42nd Street. Thursday. Five minutes to midnight. Jack Olsen,a bridge addict, is South on the fourth deal of a Chicago rubber bridge game.

In another part of the city. There are a million or more good women in this metropolitan town, and some of them are waiting for their husbands to come back home from the bridge club. Mary Olsen is one of them.

Meanwhile, three passes to Jack. What should he do?

 South (Jack)
   A J 9 5 2
   J 8
   J 7 4
   A J 5

Jack opens 1. He has the boss suit, and though he might not open in first or second chair with his soft 12 count, he feels compelled to do it in fourth.

His partner, Irv the Rat, responds 2, Drury.

With 12 points, should Jack show a normal opening or a substandard opening?

 South (Jack)
   A J 9 5 2
   J 8
   J 7 4
   A J 5

Jack rebids 2, which he thinks shows a weak hand.

But when the Rat bids 3, he isn't sure he is on the same wavelength.

Now the ball is back in his court.

 South (Jack)
   A J 9 5 2
   J 8
   J 7 4
   A J 5

Jack's played with the Rat before. Besides, Jack's hand is pitiful.

The lead is the king of hearts. West continues with the queen and another heart to the ace. Jack ruffs.

What should he do next?

 South (Jack)
   A J 9 5 2
   J 8
   J 7 4
   A J 5

Jack leads a diamond to the queen. He wants to know where that king is and a diamond to the 10 might not do the trick. East, Dan the Ducker, may play low if the ten is played.

But even the Ducker won't play low on the queen. In fact, Dan wins the queen with the king and returns a diamond. Jack wins in dummy.

What next?

 South (Jack)
   A J 9 5
   -
   J 7 4
   A J 5

Jack leads the queen of spades. He decides that East has the ace of hearts and king of diamonds, but probably not the king of spades. Otherwise he might have opened in third chair.

But just to play on the safe side, he leads the queen of spades to induce a cover. Dan the Ducker plays low.

What now?

 South (Jack)
   A J 9 5
   -
   J
   A J 5

Jack goes up with the ace of spades. West follows low. Next Jack cashes a diamond, eliminating that suit. Everyone follows. Phew! Now another trump lead and West is endplayed. He started with the doubleton king and must now lead a club away from his queen.

Meanwhile, a woman waits at home. And Jack shuffles the cards for another rubber, risking life and limb ... tune in next week ...

 South (Jack)
   A J 9 5 2
   J 8
   J 7 4
   A J 5

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