DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Occasionally I travel to Birmingham, Ala., for dinner and a bridge game with old friends and teammates.

Cover today’s East/South cards and try to beat 1NT as West. South’s opening bid promised 15 to 17 points. You lead the king of spades: seven, nine, five. When you continue with the 10, East plays the jack, and declarer takes the queen and returns a spade. Your six wins, but East discards a low diamond.

East might have played the jack on the first spade; he wasn’t sure he could spare that card. But what do you lead at Trick Four?

Jim Foster found the good shift to the 10 of clubs: deuce, nine, jack. He won the next spade and led the king and a third club, and East took the eight and ace. West’s ace of hearts scored for down one.

If West exits with a diamond at Trick Four, South can win in dummy and lead a heart to his nine to win seven tricks. Nor can West prevail by shifting to a low club; the suit will be fatally blocked.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ Q5432 ♥ KQ9

◆ AK4 ♣ J 7. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade. He bids two clubs. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: You must commit to game. To jump to 3NT might work, but your spade weakness might be a problem. Since you have excellent heart support, a possible ruffing feature in clubs and primary diamond values, bid four hearts. After your one-overone response, a bid of three hearts would only invite.