Daily Bridge Club Simple Saturday

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

Beginners face “rules” of play that are really only guidelines. Experienced players know when to ignore a “rule.”

In a duplicate event, West leads a club against four hearts. With winning trump finesses, South has 10 sure tricks but wants an overtrick. He takes the ace of clubs and returns a club to East’s queen. East sees that declarer is preparing to ruff clubs in dummy, so East leads a trump. South offers his queen. PURPOSE

West may have been taught to “cover an honor,” but to play the king would be silly. The purpose of covering is to promote possible lower cards in partner’s hand. That is unlikely here.

If West covers, South takes the ace and ruffs two black-suit losers in dummy, making five. But if West withholds his king, South can’t ruff twice without making West’s king a winner. South wins only 10 tricks.

“Cover an honor” only if you can gain thereby. DAILY QUESTION Youhold: Q8765 K4 A 9 3 8 7 6. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner asks you to bid regardless of how much strength you have. He has opening values or more, probably with help for all the unbid suits. Since you have nine points and a five-card suit, jump to two spades to invite game. You would bid one spade if all your honors were low cards. South dealer N-S vulnerable