October 9, 2021 – The Mercury News



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

I play golf, or play golf, and when I hit the ball sideways, it’s because of a fundamental flaw in the swing such as bad tempo. Many contracts fail because the declarant ignores first principles.

Today’s South has played four hearts. He would have done well to try 3NT on his second lap. He won the first spade with the ace and eliminated the ace from East trump. South won the return of spades, struck out the trumps and led a diamond to dummy. East won and returned a club, and West took the king and cashed a spade. At the bottom one.

FOUR LOSERS

South was having tempo issues. He had four possible losers, one in each suit. He could get a spade discard on the mannequin’s queen of clubs but had to set that discard up quickly.

South takes the ace of clubs from Trick Two, then leads the jack. He wins West’s return of spades, goes to the ace of diamonds and discards his last spade on the queen of clubs. Then he can start trumps.

DAILY QUESTION

You have: SAK 4 HKQ 10 7 5 DQ 10 4 CA J. The croupier, on your right, opens a diamond. You double down and your partner bids a spade. What are you saying?

ANSWER: You have extra strength and need to bid again to show it, but your best action is unclear. Raising spades with only three card support would be questionable. The partner can have four low spades. A bid of 1NT or two cores is acceptable. Remember, your partner can be broke.

Southern dealer

Vulnerable NS

NORTH

S 7 6 5 2

HJ 9 8 3

DAJ

QC 5 4

WHERE IS

NQS 10 3

H 6 2

D 7 6 3 2

CK 10 6

IS

S 9 8

HA 4

DK 9 8 5

C 9 8 7 3 2

SOUTH

SAK 4

HKQ 10 7 5

QD 10 4

CAJ

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1H Pass 2H Pass
4H Everything goes

Opening lead – SQ

(C) 2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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