DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

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

As declarer or a defender, you may have to make a wish. Unless the cards lie a specific way, you will have no chance to make or beat a contract, so you will assume they lie just so.

Today’s North-South reach 3NT after East overcalls in spades. West leads the eight of spades: a high spot to deny strength in the suit. East takes the ace, and South plays low. How will East continue?

East knows that South, who bid notrump, has the king of spades. Dummy’s diamonds will produce six tricks even if South lacks the queen, and the A-K of clubs will win two more. If East continues spades, South will make 3NT. Instead, East must assume that West has the king of hearts. East leads the ace, queen and a third heart, and South goes down.

My friend Eddie Kantar says he used this deal in a 20-table intermediate class. Not one East found the correct defense. Did you?

Daily question

You hold: ♠ J3 ♥ J4

♦ AKJ1092 ♣ AK4.Youopen one diamond, your partner bids one spade, you jump to three diamonds and he rebids three spades. What do you say?

Answer: Your three diamonds promised 15 to 17 high-card points with six good diamonds. Partner’s three spades is forcing. If he had a weak hand, he could pass: Your three diamonds suggested a strong suit, so he wouldn’t need to rebid his own suit. You should raise to four spades. North dealer

Both sides vulnerable