DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

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

A key to effective dummy play at notrump is to count winners and possible losers before you proceed. A second key is to avoid unnecessary risks.

At today’s 1NT, dummy’s queen wins the first heart. If finesses in both minor suits work, declarer may make a bundle of overtricks, but he must instead focus on taking just seven tricks.

Say South lets the 10 of clubs ride. West takes the king and leads another heart. South can cash three clubs, but if he finesses in diamonds next, East wins, and the defense runs the spades and hearts.

South should take the ace of diamonds at Trick Two and lose a diamond to the king. He wins the heart return and has four diamonds, two hearts and one club.

In a matchpoint duplicate event, South might try for the maximum number of tricks at the risk of going down. At party bridge or IMPs, the goal is to make your bid.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ 1073 ♥ AQ

♦ AQ1063 ♣ Q 10 7. You open one diamond, and your partner responds one spade. What do you say?

Answer: A rebid of two diamonds would suggest a six-card or longer suit. (To rebid a five-card suit is permissible but not desirable.) The correct call is 1NT to show a minimum opening bid with balanced distribution. Make your queen of clubs the king and you would have opened 1NT, bolstered by your three tens and good five-card suit. North dealer

Neither side vulnerable