Napoleon Hill, who died in 1970, was one of the earliest writers of personal-success literature. He wrote, "When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal."
    At the bridge table, defeat may occur following an unsound defensive signal — as might happen in this deal.
    When West leads the heart queen against three spades, how should East signal? How should West react to each possible signal: a high heart and a low heart?
    North's two-heart cue-bid showed at least a game-invitational spade raise. East doubled because he had extra values, short spades, and was happy for his partner to bid a long minor. South continued with two spades to show a minimum overcall, but North decided his fourth trump justified inviting game one more time. South was not tempted.
    If East encourages in hearts by playing the 10 at trick one, West will lead his second heart. East will win and can either shift to clubs or play another heart, but declarer can get home by ducking a couple of rounds of diamonds and ruffing the third diamond to bring down East's ace. South's nine tricks would be five spades, one diamond, two clubs and one heart ruff on the board.
    But East should discourage, hoping West will shift to a club. Then the defenders can defeat the contract. The snag is that West might switch to a diamond, which is fatal. Nothing works toat.
    Toat? To a t. Curse those crosswords!