DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

My“Simple Saturday” columns often treat logical thinking.

Cy the Cynic says an effective approach to problem-solving is to pick easy problems. Most of the “cardplacing” techniques that experts use are easy in principle.

In today’s deal, South’s “balancing” jump to two spades is “intermediate,” showing a good six-card suit and opening-bid strength. North’s raise to game is bold. West leads a diamond, and declarer sees three heart losers and a possible trump loser.

Should South try a club finesse with the queen to get a heart discard? Should he hope a finesse in trumps will win?

South should reason that ifWest held the A-K-Q of hearts, his opening lead would have been a high heart, not a diamond. So East is marked with a heart honor, but since he didn’t respond toWest’s opening bid, West has both black-suit kings.

At Trick Two, South should cash the ace of trumps. When no king appears, he leads a club to the queen next. Is that reasoning so hard?

Daily question

You hold: ♠ K7 ♥ AQ9 7 3 ♦ 10 4 2 ♣ K J 5. You open one heart, your partner responds one spade, you bid 1NT and he jumps to three spades. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner’s secondround jump in his own suit is invitational to game, not forcing. If he held a hand such as AQ 10 6 5 4, 6 5, A K, 8 7 6, he would have bid game on his own. Since you have no strength over and above what your bidding has suggested, pass and hope partner takes nine tricks.

West dealer

Both sides vulnerable