Bridge

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

Sometimes I try to help my daughter with her math homework. (Only in math problems can you buy 45 cantaloupes and not be asked what’s wrong with you.) Math is not a vital bridge skill, but players need an elementary knowledge of percentages.

Against 3NT, West leads the queen of hearts. South counts two spades, two hearts and four clubs. The defense threatens to set up the hearts, so South needs one more trick in a hurry.

South can lead a diamond to dummy’s king, hoping West has the ace, or he can attack the spades, hoping the missing spades divide 3-3. A 3-3 break will occur only about 36 percent of the time, but West will have the ace of diamonds half the time. So South should take the diamond play.

In fact, South would cash his clubs first, which would force discards from East. If East reluctantly threw a spade, South might be inclined to duck a spade next.