Simple Saturday columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.

Knowing how to handle individual card combinations correctly is a basic skill for declarer. (For instance, with A10 in dummy opposite your KQ432, the best play for five tricks is to lead to the ten.) But the way to play a suit “in isolation” may not be correct in the context of a full deal.

Against today’s 3NT, West leads a low spade, and declarer puts up dummy’s queen, winning. How should he continue for nine tricks?

South is sure of a spade trick, two hearts and a club. He needs only five diamonds. But if East gets in, a spade return might be fatal, so declarer should make an “avoidance” play: At Trick Two he leads a diamond from dummy to his nine. As the cards lie, he makes at least one overtrick, but the contract would be safe even if West had the jack.

At matchpoint duplicate, where overtricks are important at a normal contract such as this one, South would take the top diamonds.

Daily question: You hold: ? A 10 8 6 2 ? J 9 7 2 ? 4 ? K 8 5. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids two hearts. What do you say?

Answer: The only question is how many spades to bid. Partner has opening values or more with support for the unbid suits, especially the other major. His hand is short in hearts. Jump to three spades to invite game. I would rather bid four spades than bid only a competitive two spades.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

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