Basic skills

I am on record as believing that the standard of play among all players, especially those below the expert level, is in decline. Players focus too much on bidding.

Knowledge of basic play technique is vital. Since you can’t get more basic than setting up a suit, see today’s deal. West leads the queen of hearts against seven spades. How should declarer proceed?

He has 12 tricks: six trumps, a heart, two heart ruffs in dummy, a diamond and two clubs. He could get one more trick if a diamond finesse won or the A-K of clubs dropped the queen.

MAIN CHANCE

But South’s main chance is to set up dummy’s fifth diamond. Assuming a likely 4-3 break, South needs four dummy entries: three to ruff diamonds, one to cash the established winner.

South must start the diamonds promptly: ace of diamonds at Trick Two, diamond ruff, K-A of trumps, diamond ruff, heart ruff, diamond ruff. Then he reaches dummy with a heart ruff and takes the good diamond.

This week: setting up a suit.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ A432 ♥ A ♦ AQ754 ♣ J 6 3. Your partner opens one club, and the next player bids one heart. What do you say?

ANSWER: If you play “negative doubles,” a double would promise four cards in spades and enough strength to respond, but you don’t need that convention here. Bid two diamonds, showing your best suit and suggesting a good hand. If your ace of diamonds were a low diamond, a double would be correct. North dealer N-S vulnerable