Simple Saturday columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.

The play to the first trick often determines whether a contract will succeed or fail, but it seems that some players need an alarm clock to rise to that occasion.

Against 3NT, West didn’t like his chances of setting up and cashing his pitiful spades and was reluctant to lead a club when South’s bidding had suggested club strength. So West led the nine of hearts. Dummy played low, and since West’s lead of a high heart had denied an honor, East played the ten to prevent South from winning at least two heart tricks.

10 TRICKS

South took the queen and lost a diamond finesse. He won East’s club shift and claimed 10 tricks: five diamonds, three spades, a club and a heart.

East was snoozing at Trick One. He can afford to give declarer two heart tricks but not time to set up the diamonds. If East grabs his ace of hearts and shifts to the ten of clubs, the defense gets three clubs, a heart and a diamond.

Daily question: You hold: ? A Q ? K 5 4 2 ? A Q 10 9 5 3 ? 4. The dealer, at your right, opens one spade. What do you say?

Answer: You have a strong hand; your queen of spades is well placed. You might double: If partner “advanced” in hearts, great; if he bid two clubs, you would bid two diamonds. But if you aren’t willing to risk hearing him bid a lot of clubs, overcall two diamonds. Then if the next player bids two spades, and two passes follow, you can double.

North dealer

N-S vulnerable

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