Simple Saturday columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.

You’re today’s South. When West opens one club and North doubles for takeout, it would be a grave error for you to bid only one heart. Since North asked you to bid, you would make that call with no points and poor hearts. When you have 10 useful points, game is possible. Jump to two hearts, invitational.

North raises to four hearts — maybe he likes the way you play ‘em — and you need to justify his confidence. West leads a low spade, and you win in dummy. How do you play the trumps?

Try to place the cards, based on the bidding and West’s lead. If West’s clubs were, say, A-K-J-8-2, he surely would have led a high club. But West opened the bidding, and if East has the king of clubs, he can’t have much more.

Don’t finesse with the queen of trumps. Take the ace and lead a low trump. When West’s king falls, you can draw East’s jack with your queen later and make your game with careful play.

Daily question >> You hold: ? Q 9 5 ? A Q 4 2 ? Q 9 ? 7 6 4 3. Your partner opens one diamond, you bid one heart and he jumps to three diamonds. What do you say?

Answer: Partner’s jump-rebid suggests a good six-card suit with about 16 high-card points. Bidding is not an exact science, and calculated risks are often necessary. Bid 3NT. You may not make it if partner’s hand is unsuitable, but if he holds J63,5,AKJ1073,AK2, you may make an overtrick.

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