Bridge

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

As declarer, plan your play before touching a card. At a suit contract, especially one at the level of game, count your possible losers.

At four spades, South took the ace of clubs and led a heart to dummy to finesse in trumps. West won, cashed a club and led another heart. South won and drew trumps, but when he forced out the ace of diamonds, the defense cashed a heart. Down one.

South lost an easy game because he didn’t count losers and mistimed the play. He has time to discard a heart on a good diamond, but after he wins the first trick, he must lead a low trump. West wins, cashes a club and shifts to hearts, but South can draw trumps, lose a diamond to the ace, win the second heart and take his discard.

At matchpoint duplicate, South’s play would have been defensible. At IMPs or party bridge, South must try to make what he bid.