DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

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

As declarer, your first job is to count your winners, your losers or both. At notrump, usually count sure winners, then look for ways to set up more.

Even at notrump, you may need to consider how many tricks you are in danger of losing. Against today’s 1NT, West leads the five of diamonds: four, king, ace. Declarer has six easy tricks and might try cashing the top hearts, then finessing with dummy’s jack of clubs. That approach would fail.

West’s five was his fourth-highest diamond, and South can see the deuce and four, hence he knows West has no more than five. Since West has at most four diamond tricks to take, South can afford to look for his seventh trick in spades. He leads the queen at Trick Two.

The defense can win and run the diamonds, but when South gets back in, he leads the jack of spades. Dummy’s 10 will be high to fulfill the contract.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ QJ4 ♥ K73 ♦ A72 ♣ A 7 6 2. Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. What do you say?

Answer: Pass. Had you been the dealer, you would have opened one club to start a search for a playable contract. But you are not compelled to enter the auction when your righthand opponent opens. This hand is better for defense. For the moment, your best chance for a plus score is to hope the opponents bid too much and go down.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable