This week's deals treat "avoidance": stopping a "dangerous" defender from gaining the lead or from gaining it too early.

Today's declarer puts up dummy's queen of spades, winning, and his K-8 is safe from attack if West gets in. South must set up nine tricks while keeping East out of the lead.

South actually led a diamond next, planning to finesse twice in diamonds, but hit a snag when East held both missing honors. South captured East's king and took the three top clubs. When West discarded, South led a second diamond. Down he went when East produced the queen.

CLUB LOSER

South should lead a club from dummy at Trick Two. When East plays low, South plays the eight ("avoidance"), passing his probable club loser to West. South can win a heart shift in hand, take the ace of clubs, lead a heart to dummy and run the clubs to assure nine tricks.

If East played an honor on the first club, South could test the clubs. If East had a club trick, South could fall back on the diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q 4 H A 5 D 10 9 5 4 C K Q 9 7 5. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two clubs, he bids two hearts and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner's auction suggests extra strength (since his second bid of two hearts was unlimited) and shortness in diamonds. You certainly must avoid notrump and can make a slam if he has a hand such as A K J 6 3, K 7 6 3, 3, A 10 4. Jump to five clubs or stall by bidding three spades.