FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

SIMPLE SATURDAY

My “Simple Saturday” columns focus on improving basic technique and developing logical thinking.

During a session of bridge, you face a series of problems. Some you can solve by applying a rule. Others require logical thinking. Today’s South blasts into four spades when West’s opening bid of one diamond is passed around. West leads high diamonds, and South ruffs the third and starts the trumps. East takes the ace and leads the ten of clubs, and South wins and draws trumps. Finesse With nothing to go on, South would finesse with the jack of hearts for a 10th trick, but that can’t be right here. East didn’t respond to West’s opening bid and has shown an ace. He can’t have the queen of hearts.

South could take the A-K, hoping to drop the queen, but his best play is to run the trumps. With three tricks to go, West must keep his king of clubs to beat dummy’s queen and can save only two hearts. South then takes the K-A of hearts, knowing the queen will fall. Daily Question

You hold: ♠ 3 ♥ Q 10 6 ♦ AKQ 76 ♣ K J 6 5. You open one diamond, and your partner responds one heart, What do you say?

Answer: If your values were minimum — say you held 3, Q 10 6, A K 9 7 6, K 10 6 5 — you would raise to two hearts. You would be worth only one constructive move, so to show your support for partner’s suit would be correct. With your actual hand, bid two clubs. If he next bids two diamonds, you will bid two hearts to suggest a more promising hand. West dealer N-S vulnerable