DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

For a stocking stuffer for a player at the beginning or intermediate level, consider one or more of a series of excellent instructional videos featuring renowned player and teacher Larry Cohen.

Discussing defensive play, Cohen covers the different types of signals and the priority in which they are used. In today’s deal, West leads a heart against 3NT, and declarer ducks East’s jack and queen. When East leads a third heart to declarer’s ace, West should follow with the king.

East interprets this unusual play as a suit- preference signal; West’s strikingly high heart suggests an entry in spades, the high- ranking suit. So when declarer finesses in diamonds next, East will know to return a spade, and West will take two more hearts for down at least two.

With no helpful signal, East might lead a club when in with the king of diamonds, letting South make 3NT.

For ordering information, plus articles by Larry Cohen, see larryco. com. Several videos available now, more soon. DAILY QUESTION You hold: partner opens one heart, you clubs and you return to two hearts. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your two- heart “false preference” showed at most nine points, and partner would have passed if not interested in game. His three clubs says he is still interested and suggests five cards in clubs, but your hand is unpromising. Pass and hope for a plus score. South dealer N- S vulnerable