On “Simple Saturday,” I focus on improving basic technique and logical thinking.

An attribute of a good defender is the ability to distinguish times when he must look for tricks in a hurry from times when he can go “passive” and wait for tricks. The look of dummy will often provide a clue.

In today’s deal, South’s jump to two spades is weak and preemptive. Against four spades, West doesn’t find an inspired heart opening lead: He leads the deuce of clubs. When East takes the ace, should he defend passively or get busy?

DISCARDS

The defenders will get a club and a diamond but no trump tricks. They need two hearts, and East can’t wait around for them. South, given time, will draw trumps and set up the diamonds for heart discards.

East must lead the ace of hearts at Trick Two, then the queen. When he takes the ace of diamonds, he can lead a heart to West’s jack for down one. East can’t know that West has the jack, but he must so assume, otherwise his cause is hopeless.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ? 6 3 ? A Q 2 ? A 7 ? A Q 9 6 5 4. You open one club, your partner bids one spade, you jump to three clubs and he rebids three spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s three spades is forcing. It would make little sense for him to rebid three spades with a weak hand when your three clubs suggested a long, strong suit. Bid 3NT. To raise to four spades would be acceptable also, but partner can insist on four spades himself.