DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Defense is no exact science; you can’t see your partner’s hand and may face unpleasant guesses. You may make a reasonable play that doesn’t work.

At today’s four hearts, dummy played low on the first diamond, and East’s king won. At that point, a diamond return or a club shift could have been best. But East led the deuce of spades.

Declarer put up his king, but West won and returned a spade to the queen. East then led a diamond, and South had to lose a club. Down one.

Both South and East went wrong. East had a tough guess at the second trick; his winning lead was the QUEEN of spades. But South made a clear error. He must play a low spade at Trick Two.

West takes the jack but can’t beat the game. If he cashes his ace of spades, South can discard two clubs from dummy on his fourth diamond and the king of spades. If instead West shifts, South can discard dummy’s last spade on his fourth diamond.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ K73 ♥ AQJ4 ◆ Q J95 ♣ A 4. The dealer, at your right, opens one club. You double, and your partner responds one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: Since your partner had to respond to your double and may have nothing, to pass might be your only route to a plus score. But game is possible; partner could have nine points. Bid 1NT. Your double suggested club shortness, so maybe he will bid if 1NT is not playable.