Bridge: June 10, 2023

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

You’re declarer at today’s 3NT. West leads a spade, East plays the ten and your queen wins. You count six top tricks: two spades, two hearts, a club and a diamond. You can win three more — nine in all — if a minor-suit finesse wins. Which finesse should you try first? One is just as likely to work as the other.

The lead is in your hand, so say you finesse in diamonds as a matter of convenience. East takes the king and returns a spade. You take your ace, go to dummy and let the jack of clubs ride. But West wins — unlucky! — and runs his spades.

THREAT

Since West’s spades are a threat, you should force out his possible entry early, before the spades are set up. Lead a heart to dummy at Trick Two and return the jack of clubs.

If West wins and leads another spade, you win and finesse in diamonds. That finesse loses, but as you hope, East has no more spades. You will get back in to take your tricks.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 10 5 H Q J 9 6 D K 6 4 C 5 4 3 2. Your partner opens one heart, the next player doubles and you raise to two hearts. Left-hand opponent bids three clubs, and two passes follow. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have only six high-card points, but to bid three hearts is clear. Possession of a good nine-card trump fit suggests that you compete to the three level. Moreover, your partner’s hand is marked short in clubs, so the play should go well.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S 9 8 4

H A 10 5

D A J 8 7

C J 10 9

WEST

S K J 7 6 3 2

H 8 3 2

D 5 2

C K 6

EAST

S 10 5

H Q J 9 6

D K 6 4

C 5 4 3 2

SOUTH

S A Q

H K 7 4

D Q 10 9 3

C A Q 8 7

South West North East
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 6

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