Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell August 04, 2006

The bidding 

South's 2NT shows a balanced or semibalanced hand with 20-21 points. Don't forget to count the fifth Diamond as a point. North checks for a major suit fit with Stayman and the pair settles into 3NT.

The play

This is a tough one to see. What should be obvious is that you have nine tricks if the Diamond finesse is working. Do you have nine if the Club finesse works? No! You will still need the Diamond finesse. So, the general rule is "never take a finesse you don't need." 

Next, do you hold up in the Heart suit or win the first trick when East plays the King? If the Diamond finesse loses, West will be on lead, so the Jack of Hearts will be protection in that suit. So, win the opening lead with the Ace. 

Now, go to dummy for the Diamond finesse. How? We said we are not taking the Club finesse, so play a Club to the Ace. Now lead the Diamond Queen. If the finesse works, take it again, and if the Diamonds break, you have your contract. If the Diamond finesse loses, you are still okay if West has the Club King, or makes the mistake of continuing Hearts. 

Of further interest is what happens if the Diamond finesse works, but Diamonds break 4-1. How do you get back to dummy to finesse again? It depends on whether you led the Queen of Clubs at trick two to get to dummy. If you did, you have two little Clubs in your hand. Lead one and hope West has the King. You then are safe and have a Club entry to dummy. Some hands are really and truly very difficult.

Questions: gary@smabridge.com 
Lessons: 152-6351