


Simple Saturday columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.
On the first day of kindergarten, the teacher told her class that if anybody had to go to the bathroom, they should hold up two fingers. Came a small voice from the back of the room: “How will that help?”
In today’s deal, West led a diamond against six spades, and declarer sealed his fate when he finessed with dummy’s queen. East took the king, and though declarer picked up the hearts, guessing to play West for the queen, he lost a club at the end.
Declarer should have asked himself how winning the diamond finesse would help him. Even if West has the king, declarer must still locate the queen of hearts to make the slam. But if he guesses right, he can discard a diamond on dummy’s fourth heart.
South’s play of the queen of diamonds was a “practice finesse” one that may not gain even if it wins. South should instead take the ace, draw trumps and go looking for the queen of hearts.
Daily question >> You hold: ? A Q J 9 2 ? A J 4 ? 7 3 ? Q 9 8. You open one spade, and your partner bids two hearts. The opponents pass. What do you say?
Answer >> Partner’s response promises five or more hearts or at least a four-card holding so strong that he would welcome a raise with three-card support. If he had a hand such as 8 7, K Q 10 5, 9 6 2, A K 10 4, he would respond two clubs. Raise to three hearts to confirm that your side has a playable trump suit.
North dealer
N-S vulnerable
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