Simple Saturday columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.

Some players lament that they couldn’t find a Christmas card in a Hallmark store, much less resolve a two-way guess for a missing queen. But counting and drawing an inference may help.

Today’s South played at four spades after opening one spade in second seat. West led the queen and a second heart to East’s king. Declarer ruffed East’s ace of hearts, drew trumps and let the queen of diamonds ride.

CLUBS

East took the king and returned a diamond, and then South had to pick up the clubs to make his game. He led to dummy’s ace and back to his jack ... and West produced the queen. Down one.

South missed a clue. East hadn’t opened the bidding and had shown the A-K of hearts, jack of spades and king of diamonds. He couldn’t have the queen of clubs. South should try a “backward finesse,” leading the jack. If West covers, South wins in dummy and returns a club to his nine, hoping East has the ten.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ? A K Q 7 4 ? 5 3 ? Q J 5 ? K J 9. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. You bid one spade, the next player raises to two hearts and two passes follow. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has a few points, else the opponents would have bid more, and since they have a trump fit, your side probably has one also. Double. Partner will bid two spades or bid a minor suit. If you push the opponents to three hearts, you may go plus on defense.