Daily Bridge Club

Simple Saturday

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

A “hold-up play” — refusing a trick you can win — may help to break up your opponents’ communication. Against today’s 3NT, West leads the deuce of spades. If declarer takes the ace, the defense can cash three spades if they regain the lead. But if South holds up and wins the third spade, West’s fourth spade is not readily cashable.

GREATER RISK

Hold-up plays come with caveats. Don’t hold up if a shift will pose a greater risk.

South actually ducked the first spade, and East found the shift to the ten of diamonds (an “honor-trapping” play): jack, king. On the next diamond, he covered dummy’s nine. South took his ace and lost a club finesse, and East cashed two diamonds. Down one.

West’s deuce of spades showed a four-card holding, so South must take the ace immediately and finesse in clubs. He has nine winners, and the defense gets only three spades and a club.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ K J92 ♥ 10 5 4 2 ♦ K6 5 ♣ 6 4. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles. The next player bids one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: This is a case of looking ahead. You have the values to act. Indeed, if the opponents bid more, you can compete at least to the two level. Bid one spade. You can try two hearts later if necessary and play there or at two spades as partner prefers. He may have four-card support for only one major suit. South dealer N-S vulnerable