The most common errors that I see

I teach a lot of classes during the year. The majority are on the east coast of Florida during the winter season. In the summer, I run approximately one Bridge Camp Without Tents each month somewhere in the United States. Each typically lasts three days, and details are available at my website, phillipalderbridge.com.

During these classes, I see two mistakes far more often than any other. What do you think they are? I will highlight both this week.

First, look at the South hand in today's deal. West opens one heart, North makes a takeout double, and East passes. What should South bid?

In my classes, most students answer partner's takeout double by bidding their longest suit at a minimum level, whatever their point-count. In this deal, they would bid one spade, which is so wrong. A simple bid in a suit by an unpassed hand shows 0-8 points. With 9-11 points, they should jump in a suit. So, here they should leap to two spades. Then North will raise to four spades.

West cashes two top hearts and shifts to a diamond. South wins in the dummy (say) and cashes the two top spades, West turning up with the singleton 10. How should South continue?

Declarer mustn't lose a club trick. It looks as though he needs the club finesse to work. However, how many high-card points are missing? Only fifteen, and East has already produced three. Surely West has the club queen.

South may delay the evil moment, but eventually he should cash his two top clubs, hoping for the queen to drop.