DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

To end the week, try to find a winning defense against today’s four hearts. Cover the East and South cards and defend as West after East preempted over North’s one club. South showed a good hand with long hearts. You lead the king of diamonds: deuce, jack, five. What next?

When I watched the deal, West went wrong: He led a second diamond. East won but had no winning return. He tried a third diamond, but South ruffed with the six. West discarded a club.

When South led a low trump next, West played low, and dummy’s ten won.

South led a spade to his hand and tabled the king of trumps, and West’s ace won the defenders’ last trick. Making four.

West’s trump holding was promising, and the defense could prevail with a trump promotion.

But at the second trick, West must cash his ace of trumps.

He then leads a second diamond, and when East wins and leads a third diamond, West scores his nine of trumps whether South ruffs low or high.

Did you beat the contract?

DAILY QUESTION You hold: S 10 8 7 6 H A 9 3 2 D K 3 C 5 4 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: The correct call is one spade. The auction may become a partscore battle. Say the opening bidder rebids two clubs, and two passes follow. Then you can bid two hearts and play at the level of two in the major suit partner prefers. He may have four-card support for only one major.