DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

In a college football game some years ago, Tennessee vs. Auburn, it rained so hard that gaining yardage on offense was impossible. Throughout the fourth quarter, Tennessee punted on first down.

A quality of a capable defender is the ability to distinguish times when he must win tricks in a hurry from times when he should defend passively and let declarer struggle (punt).

In today’s deal, West chooses a trump lead against four hearts. South wins with dummy’s king to lead a diamond to his king. When West takes the ace, what should he lead?

Dummy is flat and weakish. Whatever losers declarer has in his hand, he must inevitably lose — unless West unwisely gets busy and shifts to a spade or club, helping declarer.

West should punt by leading a second trump. If South wins in dummy and finesses with the jack of clubs next, West can take the queen and continue a passive defense by leading his last trump. South will go down at least one.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ A106 ♥ A1098

◆ K6 ♣ A K J 7. South in today’s deal opened 2NT with this hand. Do you agree with that call?

ANSWER: South’s range to open 2NT may have been 20 or 21 points, but he upgraded his hand because most of the values were aces and kings, and he had good intermediate spot cards. I am reluctant to strain to open 2NT — a space-consuming call that may impede the search for a good game or slam.