DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

This week’s deals have treated a valuable defensive tool: the suit-preference signal. When neither “attitude” nor “count” can be a reasonable interpretation of partner’s signal, a strikingly high or low card may call your attention to a highranking or low-ranking suit.

Cover today’s East and South cards and defend as West. Against South’s three hearts, you lead the deuce of spades. Declarer captures your partner’s jack with the ace and leads a trump to dummy’s king. East produces the ace and leads the three of diamonds, won by your ace.

What card do you lead next?

Lead the 10 of diamonds as a suit-preference signal: your highest remaining diamond to suggest the return of a spade, the highranking side suit, after East ruffs. He can lead a spade to your king and get another diamond ruff for down one. If you carelessly lead any other diamond at Trick Four, East might go wrong.

South misplayed. He could succeed by refusing the first spade or by returning a spade at Trick Two.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: K 10 6 2 J4 A 10 5 2 Q 4 3. The dealer, at your left, opens two hearts. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s double is for takeout. He has either support for the unbid suits with at least opening values or a strong hand with a suit he intends to show. Jump to three spades to invite game. You might respond two spades with no values at all.