Jackie Robinson said, "Pop flies, in a sense, are just a diversion for a second baseman. Grounders are his stock in trade."

For bridge players, "trade" ought to be their stock in trade.

Last week, we looked at the "trade" acronym from the declarer's point of view. However, the defenders should also use these tools. Let us start with track the defenders' and declarer's tricks.

South is in four hearts. West leads a fourth-high club four: three, ace, five. How should East continue?

South opened with a weak two-bid, showing a decent six-card suit and some 6-10 high-card points. North knew that there could be four losers, but maybe the defenders would err or there would be 10 top tricks. It pays to push for game because the bonus for success is so huge.

East should ask himself where four defensive tricks might come from. He can see two: the club ace and heart king. West cannot have the spade ace and king, because he would have led the ace, not a club. So, East must hope for one spade, one heart and two clubs. This means that West must be assumed to have the club king. If he also has the spade ace, anything will work. But if West has only the spade king, East must shift to that suit at trick two. And he should lead the eight or six, high to deny an honor.

Here, this leaves South with no chance. But if East plays back a club -- returning your suit, partner -- the contract makes. Declarer will be able to draw trumps and discard his spade loser on dummy's fourth diamond.

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