Two winning approaches may exist in notrump defense. One is to strive to set up and cash a long suit. The other is to prevent declarer from using his long suit.

In today's deal, East won the first club and hastily returned a club. It was a losing approach: South won and started the hearts. East won the second heart and led another club, but South won and led a diamond to the king and ace. After the defense cashed a club, South had the rest. He got to dummy with the queen of diamonds to run the hearts.

TWICE STOPPED

If West had led from K-J-10-x of clubs, East could beat 3NT with a club return at the second trick, but then East could just as well return a club later. If South had two club stoppers, East needed a different approach.

East must try to kill dummy's entry; without heart tricks, South is likely to fail. East can't prevail by leading a low diamond, or the ace and a low diamond. At Trick Two, his winning lead - work it out and you'll see - is the jack of diamonds.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A K J 9 2 H 6 2 D 10 6 5 C K Q 7. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids 1NT. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have enough strength for game, and it's possible that you belong at four spades. But since your distribution is balanced, raise to 3NT despite your lack of diamond strength. If you held A K J 9 2, 6 2, 6 5, K Q 7 2, you would bid three clubs in an effort to locate a 5-3 spade fit.