DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“Simple Saturday” columns are meant to help aspiring players improve technique and develop logical thinking.

To become an effective declarer, learn to handle card combinations correctly. For example, with K- Q- 4- 3- 2 opposite A- 10, the best play for five tricks is to lead the deuce and finesse with the ten.

Today’s declarer has seven top tricks. To make 3NT, he must try for two clubs. A beginning player might lead the jack. That would be fine if his clubs were J- 10- 9. As it is, East will take the queen, and however declarer proceeds, he will score only one club trick.

It is generally correct to lead toward unsupported honors. Declarer’s best try here is to lead a low club toward the J- 10- 3. As the cards lie, East can’t stop declarer from scoring two clubs: If East plays low, declarer takes the jack, returns to dummy and leads a second low club.

Similarly, if on the first club South’s jack lost to West’s queen, South would try a second club toward his ten later. DAILY QUESTION You hold: dealer, at your right, opens one club. What do you say?

ANSWER: To pass without a hesitation is a sign of maturity as a player. You have a handful of losers, and to double and oblige your partner to be declarer would be unkind. Nor do you have the strength to overcall 1NT. This hand is suitable for defending. Your best chance for a plus may be to wait for the opponents to reach an unmakable contract. North dealer N- S vulnerable