Emmeline Pankhurst, who was the best-known of the suffragette movement in England, said, “We are here, not because we are lawbreakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers.”

In bridge, we have suit splits, and those players who best accommodate bad breaks will be win-makers – if there is such an expression.

Here is another deal I was sent by a reader. What do you think of South’s opening one-no-trump bid? How should he have planned the play in three no-trump after West led the heart five: queen, seven, two?

Opening one no-trump whenever holding 15, 16 or 17 points has reached almost epidemic proportions with non-experts. I have seen players open one no-trump with a six-card major and, even worse, 5-5 in the majors!

When you have a five-card major and 5-3-3-2 distribution, it may prove costly to open one no-trump; although, it must be agreed, if you open in the major, especially when it is hearts, you may face an awkward rebid.

Your rebid is a critical consideration. Here, if South opens one club, he has an easy one-spade rebid. Then, North might rebid one no-trump (a tad cautious), two no-trump (a tad aggressive) or three clubs (despite the soft hand). Regardless, three no-trump rates to be the final contract.

The play should not be testing. The risk is a 4-0 club break, but by cashing the club ace (or king) first, declarer can finesse through either opponent to gain five club tricks. So, at trick two, declarer should lead a low club to his hand. Here, he wins one spade, two hearts, one diamond and five clubs.