“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.
Speaking of “focus,” maintaining your concentration is 50 percent of doing well. A vast knowledge of technique won’t help someone who is thinking about where he will go for dinner.
In today’s deal, West led the king of clubs against South’s four spades, and East overtook with the ace and returned a club. When West won and led a third club, declarer ruffed with dummy’s ten of trumps. East overruffed with the jack and exited with a diamond.
SETTING TRICK
South then drew trumps, led a heart to his ace and returned a heart for a finesse with dummy’s jack. East produced the queen, winning the setting trick.
Whatever South had his mind on, it wasn’t winning 10 tricks. On the third club, South should discard a heart from dummy instead of ruffing. He wins West’s diamond shift, draws trumps, takes dummy’s second high diamond and discards another heart from dummy on the queen of diamonds. He easily wins the rest.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 10 6 5 3 2 H K J 7 5 D A K C 6 3. The dealer, at your left, opens three clubs. Your partner doubles. The next player passes. What do you say?
ANSWER: You have a game (at least). To bid four spades would be acceptable, or you could cue-bid four clubs to let partner mention a major. Choosing the best trump suit in these situations is taxing. Depending on how the cards lie, either a 4-4 heart fit or a 5-3 spade fit might be better.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 10 6 5 3 2
H K J 7 5
D A K
C 6 3
WEST
S 4
H 6 4 3
D 9 6 2
C K Q 10 8 5 4
EAST
S J 8 7
H Q 10 9
D 10 8 7 4 3
C A 7
SOUTH
S A K Q 9
H A 8 2
D Q J 5
C J 9 2
South West North East
1 NT Pass 2 C Pass
2 S Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — C K
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