DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Defense is a partnership undertaking. You and your favorite partner can try to beat today’s four spades. Sit West and cover the East/ South cards. Your partner sits East and covers the West/South cards. You lead the king of diamonds.

When I watched the deal, the defense misfired. East followed with the four on the first diamond, and West took the ace and shifted to a heart. South won with the ace and led the ace and a low trump to West’s king. South won the next heart and claimed, throwing a club on dummy’s fourth heart.

How should the defense operate?

At Trick One, East must play the queen of diamonds, signaling possession of the jack. Then West can lead a low diamond to his partner to get a club shift while he still has the king of trumps.

How does East know to shift to a club, not a heart? At Trick Two, West leads the deuce of diamonds: suit-preference. A low diamond asks East to lead the low-ranking remaining suit. How did you and your partner do?

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ AJ10732 ♥ AK3 ◆ 93 ♣ A 2. Your partner opens one heart, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: This hand has so much slam potential — even if partner has minimum opening values — that I would let him know immediately so he can cooperate (or discourage if his hand is unsuitable). Jump to two spades, planning to support the hearts next.