Bridge: May 4, 2024

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

Today’s South could have opened 2NT, but that’s a space-consuming call that can impede slam investigation; nothing was terrible with opening one club and jump-shifting in hearts. When North rebid his diamonds, South tried 3NT.

West led a spade: deuce, king, ace. South led a diamond to dummy and returned a heart to his queen, and West took the king and led the queen of clubs. South won but had only two tricks in each suit and no chance for a ninth trick.

BETTER ODDS

South had a 50-50 chance — the heart finesse would either win or lose — but could get better odds. At Trick Two he leads a diamond and plays low from dummy. East wins and returns a spade, and South ducks, wins the third spade and takes the A-K of diamonds. When the suit breaks 3-2 (about a 68 percent chance), he wins five diamonds, two spades, two clubs and a heart.

If diamonds broke 4-1, South would have some slight extra chances.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A Q 5 H A Q J 3 D 7 3 C A K 4 2. Neither side vulnerable. Your partner deals and opens three diamonds, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Resist the temptation to bid 3NT. Your partner will not have solid diamonds, and if he has a textbook preempt such as 3,76,KQJ10962,J76, you probably won’t be able to use his diamonds at notrump. Bid five diamonds. Partner will surely be a favorite at that contract.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S 8 3 2

H 7 6

D A K 8 6 5 2

C 6 3

WEST

S J 9 7 4

H K 4 2

D 9 4

C Q J 9 7

EAST

S K 10 6

H 10 9 8 5

D Q J 10

C 10 8 5

SOUTH

S A Q 5

H A Q J 3

D 7 3

C A K 4 2

South West North East
1 C Pass 1 D Pass
2 H Pass 3 D Pass
3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 4

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