BRIDGE

This week’s deals have treated “avoidance”: the technique of keeping a dangerous defender from gaining the lead. Cover the East-West cards. Plan your play at 3NT when West leads a low heart: six, king, ace.

If spades lie well, you can force out the ace and make an overtrick: You will have four spade tricks, four diamonds and two hearts.

But if East has A-10-x-x, you will be in the soup. You will have only eight winners, and the defense can set up and cash three heart tricks in addition to their black-suit aces. CORRECT PLAY

Your correct play is to lead a diamond to dummy at Trick Two and return a low club. If East held the ace and grabbed it to return a heart, you would have three clubs, four diamonds and two hearts. If he played low, you would win and shift to spades for at least nine tricks.

In the actual deal, West takes the ace of clubs but can’t trouble you by leading a second heart. You will have time to force out the ace of spades and make overtricks easily. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ A 10 9 4 ♥ K753 ♦ 873 ♣ 9 5. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: To respond one spade is correct. This auction may be competitive. If the opening bidder rebids two diamonds and two passes follow, you can bid two hearts and play at the major suit your partner prefers. He may have four-card support for one major but only three cards in the other. South dealer N-S vulnerable