DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

A reader asks a pertinent question: How much should declarer tailor his play to the skill of the defenders?

A good declarer can rely on psychology or technique: whatever he thinks will work at the time. At today’s 3NT, East-West were expert defenders. South won the first spade with the ace and led a heart: eight, three (!) from dummy, four.

South won the next spade in his hand and led a second heart. When West’s ace came up, South had three heart tricks and nine in all.

South could instead have led a heart to the king, then (if the king won) a diamond to his nine. South would win nine tricks if West held any three hearts to the ace, or if he held the ace of hearts and East had the 10 of diamonds plus one higher honor.

South’s actual play was better, percentage-wise.

But if South knew that East was a weak defender and might err by winning the first heart with A-10-4, the odds would shift. To lead a heart to the king would be attractive.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ Q86 ♥ KQ653

◆ 42 ♣ 9 7 4. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: Game is still possible but it is unlikely. A preference bid of two clubs might work; partner’s pattern might be 4-2-2-5. A bid of 1NT or a rebid of two hearts would be quite speculative. Pass and hope for a plus. One spade may be as good a contract as any.