DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

A reader asks how he should have played today’s four hearts in a matchpoint event.

“West led a trump,” he writes. “I won, took the A- K of spades and ruffed a spade in dummy. East overruffed and returned a trump, and I also lost a spade, a diamond and a club. Down one.

“I might make four by pitching a club from dummy on the third spade. If West shifted to a club, I could take the ace, pitch dummy’s last club on a fourth spade and ruff a club in dummy. But if spades break 3- 3, I make an overtrick.”

I sympathize with my reader. Overtricks at “normal” contracts — ones most pairs will reach — are vital at matchpoints, and this contract looks normal.

Moreover, say that West leads a second trump when he wins the third round of spades. South wins and discards a second club from dummy on the fourth spade. But then West can put East in with the king of diamonds ( granted, a tough play, but easy if East had held the ace) to lead a third trump, and South still goes down. DAILY QUESTION You hold: at your left, opens three hearts. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: To oblige you to respond at the three level or four level, your partner needs a strong hand; his hand points. Moreover, he should have good support for the other major since you are most likely to respond in that suit. Do your duty and bid four spades. South dealer Both sides vulnerable