Bridge Play

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

I’m sure all my readers would bring home today’s contract, but to make sure all bets are covered, we’ll go through the play.

South’s game-forcing opening bid of two clubs was bold — he was short on playing tricks — but to open one spade wasn’t safe either. Against four spades, West leads the queen of hearts and continues hearts. South ruffs the third heart and counts 10 winners: five trumps, two diamonds and three clubs. But he must preserve an entry to dummy to score all his club tricks.

UNBLOCKS

South can take one high trump at Trick Four but then leads the king of clubs. If West wins and leads a trump, South wins in his hand, unblocks his queen of clubs and goes to the queen of trumps for the high clubs.

Note that South couldn’t cash a second high trump prematurely. Then West could take his ace of clubs and lead his last trump, killing dummy’s entry while the clubs were blocked.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 76 ♥ A984 ♦ 1065 ♣ 8 5 3 2. Your partner opens two clubs (strong, artificial), you respond two diamonds (negative or waiting) and he bids two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: A textbook call is available. Bid four hearts, showing good support but denying any side-suit ace, king, void or singleton. Your call discourages slam. If your ten of diamonds were the king, you would raise to three hearts, leaving room for slam investigation.