DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

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

A beginning text may include a defender’s “table of preferred leads”: the proper card to lead from various holdings. From Q-J9-7-3, the textbook lead is the queen, the highest card in the broken sequence. But some situations aren’t found in texts.

Against today’s 3NT, West led the nine of hearts, a high spot to suggest a weak suit. East took the ace and knew not to return a heart. He tried the deuce of spades, fourth-highest from his broken suit: seven, queen, four. West returned the five: six, king, ace. South lost a diamond finesse, won the third spade and claimed an overtrick.

DOWN ONE

At Trick Two, East must lead the ten of spades. If South plays the jack, West wins and returns a spade, and East gets two more spades and the king of diamonds for down one.

Such “surrounding” or “honor-trapping” plays are common. You lead the card that would have been correct if you had a sequential holding.

DAILY QUESTION You hold: S 9 6 4 H K J 10 D A Q 10 9 4 C K 4. You open one diamond, and your partner responds one heart. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: A bid of 1NT to show a balanced minimum hand or a rebid of two diamonds would not be a mistake (though two diamonds would really suggest a six-card or longer suit). A raise to two hearts is best. To raise partner’s major-suit response with good three-card support is a long-term winning tactic.