DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“Simple Saturday” columns are meant to help aspiring players absorb basic technique and develop logical thinking.

“Avoidance” is the technique of preventing a “dangerous” defender ( one who can lead to declarer’s disadvantage) from gaining the lead.

In today’s deal, West leads a heart against 3NT, and dummy’s ace wins. West probably has the queen, so South doesn’t want East to get in early and return a heart through the K- J, setting up the hearts while West may have an entry.

If South leads a club at Trick Two, attacking his best suit, East will win and return a heart, and West will set up his suit. South will have only eight winners — four clubs, a spade, a diamond and two hearts — and if he finesses in diamonds, West will win and run the hearts.

Instead, South lets the queen of diamonds ride at Trick Two. West wins but can do no damage with another heart lead. If he exits with a diamond, South has time to force out the ace of clubs for nine winners. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ K 9 6 ♥ Q10 6 5 4 ♦K 7 4 ♣ 9 5. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Though your hand is weak, you must return to your better trump suit. Bid two diamonds. Partner has five or more diamonds. If you had a weak hand but liked clubs, you could pass, hence your preference implies no more strength than would a pass. A rebid of two hearts would show a longer suit. A bid of 2NT would show more strength. South dealer Both sides vulnerable