DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

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

A “safety” play is like an insurance policy. You pay a premium — you give up on taking the maximum number of possible tricks — but you protect yourself against a devastating loss.

At today’s six spades, South takes the ace of diamonds, discarding a club, and leads a club to his queen. West politely plays low. How should declarer continue?

If South leads the ace of clubs next ( trying for 13 tricks), West will ruff and lead a trump. South will have two losing clubs but only one trump left in dummy, and the result will be down one. To insure against a 5- 1 club break, South must lead a low club at Trick Three. If East wins and leads a trump, South wins, ruffs his last low club with dummy’s queen and wins the rest.

By the way, a trump opening lead, though it looks like a killer, won’t beat six spades. I’ll let you figure out how South can still win 12 tricks. DAILY QUESTION You hold: passes, the dealer, at your right, opens one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: A double is possible, but there are some strikes against that action. Your values are minimum. The queen of spades may be worthless for offense, and your partner is a passed hand. If he responded in clubs, your support would be inadequate ( and if you ran to two diamonds, you would promise a much better hand). I would pass. South dealer N- S vulnerable