Daily Bridge Club

Simple Saturday

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

Assumption is said to be the cause of most disasters. As a defender, never assume that declarer’s trump suit is rock-solid.

Today’s West led the king of hearts against four spades, and East correctly overtook with the ace to get out of his partner’s way. West won the heart return with the jack and led the queen, and East discarded a diamond.

Declarer ruffed, led a diamond to dummy and returned a trump: five, king, deuce. He went back to a high club and led a second trump. East took his ace and led a diamond, but South won, drew West’s jack of trumps and claimed.

FINESSE

At Trick Three, East can see that the defense will take no more sidesuit tricks. If declarer needs a minorsuit finesse, it will win. East’s only hope for a fourth defensive trick lies with the trump suit.

East must ruff the third heart with his ace of trumps. Then West’s jack will score for down one.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: { A5 x A4 z 98532 y J 6 5 3. Your partner opens one spade, you respond 1NT, he bids two diamonds and you raise to three diamonds. Partner next bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner is trying for game and is painting a picture of his distribution so you can tell whether your honors are useful. His shape is likely to be 5-3-4-1. Bid five diamonds or, maybe better, bid three spades to show your tolerance for that suit.

West dealer

Both sides vulnerable