Bridge Simple Thursday

“Simple Thursday” columns

are meant to help aspiring players improve technique and develop logical thinking.

I don’t know whether origami artists fold under pressure, but defenders often feel pressure when declarer runs a long suit and forces discards.

In a Chicago game, South’s first-round double was “negative,” showing four cards in spades. Against 3NT, West led the seven of hearts: queen, ace, deuce. When East returned the jack, South played low and won the third heart.

STOPPER

South then cashed six diamonds, and East, who had to discard three times, folded. He threw a spade — and two hearts to keep his spade stopper. South then led a club. East took his ace, but South had the rest, scoring game.

Discarding on the run of a suit can tax even expert pairs. Here, East must assume that West has the king of spades; if South has it, he has nine tricks. So East should throw three spades on the diamonds. Then, if South leads a club, East can cash two hearts for down one.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A 8 2 ♥ Q 3 ♦ A K J 10 9 2 ♣ 8 4. You open one diamond, your partner bids one spade, you rebid two diamonds and he tries two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER:

A few players would have raised to two spades at their second turn, but to rebid the sixcard suit was fine. Now, though, you must bid two or three spades, showing your fit for partner’s first suit. He suggests at least five spades and would like to hear about your support.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable