Marcus Tullius Cicero, who was the Roman consul in 63 B.C., said, “If you aspire to the highest place, it is no disgrace to stop at the second, or even the third, place.”

In today’s deal, which is the same as yesterday’s, South reaches the second-best contract of four hearts. It might be no disgrace, but it would help if he could make the contract; otherwise, he really will wish he had played in five diamonds.

What should South do after West leads the club ace and continues with the club king?

Yesterday, North redoubled to show 10-plus high-card points; now he started with one spade, ignoring West’s intervention. Three clubs was fourth-suit game-forcing. After South described his two-suiter, North supported diamonds. Then, when South continued with four hearts, North assumed this showed a suit strong enough to play opposite king-doubleton.

The danger in four hearts is retaining trump control because West’s takeout double indicates shortage in hearts. Rather than try to draw trumps, it is better to cash side-suit winners and take some trump tricks.

South should ruff the second club, play a diamond to the king, and return a diamond to his ace. Then he can give up a diamond trick (East discards a spade). If West does not play another club, South can draw trumps and cash pointed-suit winners. Or, when West leads a third club, declarer ruffs and plays on spades. East ruffs the second, but a fourth club is ruffed in the dummy, trumps drawn, and diamonds cashed.