Bridge: Oct. 14, 2023

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

Counting on defense is essential. Defenders must count declarer’s points and distribution and (to determine whether to play an “active” or “passive” defense) his playing tricks. To begin, defenders must count their own sure tricks and think about where more may come from.

Today’s West leads his singleton spade against four hearts. When East’s ace wins, he knows that West led a singleton and can ruff a spade return.

Where can the defenders find two more tricks?

OVERTRICK

They will get no clubs or trumps, so they need two diamonds. If South has the ace, he is destined to make an overtrick. But if South has the king, East must shift to the queen of diamonds. South will cover, and West wins and returns a diamond to the jack. Then East gives West his spade ruff.

If in the actual deal East returns a spade at Trick Two, West ruffs, but he can only cash his ace of diamonds to stop an overtrick.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 8 5 H K Q 10 9 8 4 D K 6 C J 10 5. You deal and open two hearts, a weak two-bid. Your partner bids 2NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s bid is a conventional inquiry. Partnerships have various agreements. Some use artificial rebids by opener to distinguish among hands with a good or poor suit, or minimum or maximum points. In a simple scheme, opener shows a side “feature”: an ace or king. If that is your style, bid three diamonds.

North dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S K Q 9

H A J 5

D 10 4

C A K Q 7 3

WEST

S 2

H 7 3

D A 9 8 7 5 2

C 9 6 4 2

EAST

S A J 10 7 6 4 3

H 6 2

D Q J 3

C 8

SOUTH

S 8 5

H K Q 10 9 8 4

D K 6

C J 10 5

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

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