DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

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

Bridge is a problem- solver’s game. Clues from the bidding and play are often available. In today’s deal, West led the deuce of spades against four hearts. Declarer put up dummy’s king, and East took the ace and queen and next led a trump.

South drew trumps and let the queen of clubs ride. East won, but South took the rest, discarding two diamonds on good clubs.

Both East and South missed simple clues. East needed a diamond shift through dummy to set up a trick for his king before South used the clubs. If South had held the jack of spades, he would have played low from dummy on the first spade hoping West led from the queen. So East could lead the four of spades at Trick Two.

South? He could place East with the ace of spades: West wouldn’t underlead an ace at the first trick. So South should play dummy’s six. West can’t get in, so the contract is safe. DAILY QUESTION You hold: one club, and your partner bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: To rebid two clubs would be an error. To rebid a five- card suit is permissible but not desirable; two clubs would suggest a six- card or longer suit. A bid of two hearts would be a “reverse,” committing you to a high- level contract, and would promise more strength. Bid ! " # $ $ - mum opening bid. South dealer Both sides vulnerable