Trending
A resourceful declarer is always on the lookout for a way to increase his chances of making the contract. Sometimes these extra chances are fairly obvious, but at other times they are more subtle.
Take this case where South was in three notrump and West led a heart. Declarer ducked the first two hearts and won the third with the ace as East discarded a low spade.
South now cashed five diamond tricks, discarding a club and a spade on the last two diamonds. East discarded a second spade and a club, while West let go a club, a spade and then another club.
This brought declarer to a crucial decision -- whether to finesse in spades or clubs for his ninth trick. With little to go on except that West had discarded two clubs and only one spade, he elected to lead a club to the queen, whereupon West won with the king and cashed two hearts for down one.
It might appear that South faced a pure guess as to which finesse to take, but he could have increased his chances substantially by altering his play slightly. Instead of cashing five diamonds immediately, it would have been better to cash only the K-Q and then exit with a heart.
In the actual deal, West wins the heart and can cash his remaining heart, but, because he started with only two diamonds, he has to return a spade or a club, sparing South the guess as to which finesse to take.
Note that if West happened to have a third diamond to return after taking his hearts, declarer would be no worse off than he was before.
Note further that on the recommended line of play, South makes the contract even if West has both missing kings -- provided, of course, that he started with no more than two diamonds.
Tomorrow: A crucial defensive decision.
(c)2026 King Features Syndicate Inc.