Daily Bridge Club

Simple Saturday

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

In an “avoidance” play — indeed, a basic technique — declarer tries to prevent a defender who can make a damaging lead from getting in. Against today’s 3NT, West leads a spade: three, ten, jack. South knows that West has the A-Q. If East gains the lead to return a spade, the contract may fail.

If “avoidance” were no factor, declarer might finesse in diamonds. As it is, he doesn’t want to see East get in. So South takes four club tricks and then the A-K of diamonds.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

When East-West play low, South leads dummy’s queen of hearts. If East had the king and covered, South would win, lead another heart and hope for the best.

But when East plays low, South lets the queen ride. When West wins, he is stuck: He must lead a heart from his jack or lead another spade. Either way, South gets his ninth trick. He would be safe even if West had the queen of diamonds to cash.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: 7 3 Q 9 3 A K 10 6 4 Q 4 2. Your partner opens 1NT, and the next player passes. North in today’s deal responded three diamonds with this hand. Do you agree with that call?

ANSWER: North was wrong to show his diamonds; he was only showing them to the defenders. North’s pattern was balanced, and his diamonds would produce tricks at notrump. To raise to 3NT was correct. The nine-trick notrump game will succeed more often than five diamonds. South dealer N-S vulnerable