Simple Saturday

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on improving basic technique and developing logical thinking.

Defenders have two ways to beat 3NT: They can set up a long suit and take five tricks before declarer takes nine, or they can prevent declarer from assembling nine tricks.

Against today’s 3NT, West leads a heart to East’s ace. To return a heart would be clear if the defenders’ plan were to set up and cash West’s hearts. But East knows the deck doesn’t have enough points for West to have establishable hearts plus an entry.

DUMMY ENTRY

East’s focus must shift to depriving declarer of his tricks. At Trick Two, East leads a club, killing an entry to dummy. If South wins in his hand and lets the nine of diamonds ride, East can take the queen and lead another club.

East ducks the next diamond and wins the third, and dummy is stone dead. South wins only two spades, two hearts, one diamond and three clubs. But if East returns a heart at the second trick, South makes an overtrick.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ Q 10 3 ♥ A 10 ♦ AQ4 ♣ 9 6 5 4 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has opening values with strength in the unbid suits (or maybe a good one-suited hand). Bid 3NT. The play will go well because you will know where the missing high cards lie. You could stall with a two-diamond cue bid, but when you are confident of the best contract, bid it. South dealer N-S vulnerable