Bridge: May 18, 2024

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

Cy the Cynic defines self-restraint as the ability to resist temptation until something better comes along. Players must resist the temptation to draw trumps when they must do something else first.

At today’s four hearts, declarer wins the first club with the king and counts possible losers. He has one in each suit. South can’t avoid losing to the red aces and may lose a spade, but he can hope to pitch his club loser on a spade winner in dummy.

CLUB TRICK

If South leads a trump at the second trick, East wins and returns a club, setting up the defenders’ club trick. South can draw trumps and try a spade finesse with the queen, but East wins and returns a club for down one.

South must lead a spade to the queen at Trick Two, gaining time. East takes the king and returns a club, but South wins and leads a second spade to the ten. He discards his last club on the ace and can then start the trumps.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 9 5 4 H A 4 D 10 8 6 2 C 9 7 3. The dealer, at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, you respond (“advance”) one spade and he bids two spades. The opponents pass. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has a strong hand. For all he knows, you have zilch; you would have bid one spade on nothing, yet he was willing to contract for eight tricks. Bid four spades. Partner’s hand should be no weaker than AQ82,KQ83,AQ2,82.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S A Q 10

H J 9 8

D 9 7 4 3

C 8 5 2

WEST

S J 7 6 2

H 6 3

D A J 5

C Q J 10 4

EAST

S K 9 5 4

H A 4

D 10 8 6 2

C 9 7 3

SOUTH

S 8 3

H K Q 10 7 5 2

D K Q

C A K 6

South West North East
1 H Pass 2 H Pass
4 H All Pass
Opening lead — C Q

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