This week’s deals have treated “avoidance” keeping a “dangerous”defender from gaining the lead. To test yourself, cover today’s East-West cards. Plan the play at four hearts when West leads the ten of diamonds.

You have plenty of potential winners for 10 tricks: six trumps, at least two spades and at least two diamonds. But East is dangerous: If he gets in, a club shift through your king may give the defenders four tricks before you have 10.

Take the ace of diamonds, cash your A-K of spades, lead a trump to dummy and return the jack of spades. When East follows low, pitch your last diamond.

West takes the king and leads another trump, and you win in dummy and lead the queen of diamonds for a ruffing finesse through East. If he plays low, you pitch a club; if West won, you could throw a second club on the jack of diamonds.

If East covers the queen, you ruff and reach dummy with a trump to discard a club on the jack. You lose two clubs and one spade.

Daily question: You hold: ? J 10 4 2 ? K 10 9 ? A Q J ? 6 5 3. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens three hearts. You partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

Answer: The problem would divide an expert panel. Some would pass, which will surely yield a plus score. Others would try four spades since partner’s double almost guarantees spade support as well as a good hand. My choice would be a bid of 3NT, but I don’t feel strongly.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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