New York Post

Bridge

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

When you become declarer, you have undertaken to win a specified number of tricks. When you see dummy, count your winners. If you see enough sure winners to make your contract, take them.

At today’s two hearts, South takes the ace of diamonds and counts seven more tricks: four trumps in his hand, a club and two diamond ruffs in dummy. He should ruff a diamond at Trick Two and lead a club to his ace to ruff a second diamond.

South shouldn’t risk a finesse with the queen of clubs. If West won, he would switch to trumps, and South would lose his second diamond ruff.

What about at matchpoint duplicate, where overtricks may be valuable? I would still play to assure the contract. South has received a favorable opening lead -- a trump lead would have been damaging -- so he is ahead of the game. Plus scores in partscore deals can be worth many matchpoint­s.

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