DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Playing the cards in the proper order wouldn’t seem hard, but looking even three or four tricks ahead can perplex players who lack card sense.

Against today’s 3NT, West led the jack of hearts, and South won with the king and led the queen of clubs. East took his ace to return a heart.

Declarer won and took the jack of clubs. With a normal 3- 2 break he would have had 10 tricks, but when West discarded a diamond, South could only take dummy’s king of clubs and four diamond tricks and give up. Down one.

South should win the first heart with the ace and lead a low club from dummy. If East grabs his ace, South has 10 tricks. If East ducks, South leads a diamond to dummy and returns a second club, and East must play low again. With two clubs in the bag, South leads a spade to get his ninth trick. This play would fail only if West had the singleton ace of clubs.

“Card sense” can be learned through study and practice. Don’t despair if you think you don’t have any. DAILY QUESTION You hold: the dealer, neither side vulnerable. What do you say?

ANSWER: Here’s another borderline decision on whether to open the bidding, and the modern expert tendency seems to be “When in doubt, open.” I’m not in doubt. The hand has inadequate defense, lack of length in the major suits and looming rebid problems. Moreover, no opening bid has clear lead- directing value. I would pass with no guilt feelings. South dealer N- S vulnerable