Confucius, a wise fellow, said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.”

Bridge is rarely as simple as one, two, three, but analyzing in logical steps is a great idea.

South is in four hearts. West leads the club two. How should East plan the defense?

The North hand was close to a two-no-trump opening, but not good enough. (If you count two points for an ace and one for a king, a typical two-no-trump opening contains seven points; this hand had only five.) East had an easy two-club overcall. South had a minimum two-heart response, but he was right not to make a negative double with a singleton spade, and he was too strong to pass. North, knowing his partner had at least five hearts, jumped to game.

First, East should check the points – a theme of all deals. Dummy has 19, East holds 11, and South promised 10. So, West’s main job is to avoid reneging!

Second, East can see only two defensive tricks: his aces. He must hope partner has led a singleton.

Third, East wins with his club ace and carefully returns the jack, his highest-remaining club being a suit-preference signal for spades, the higher-ranking of the other two side suits. West ruffs the trick and shifts to a spade. Now East must complete his job by winning with the ace and leading a low club. When West ruffs with his second heart, it uppercuts the dummy and promotes a trump trick for East’s queen – the fourth defensive trick.