Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell, September 08, 2006

The bidding explained

This is a typical competitive auction. When North raises Hearts, South is justified in trying for the game.

The play

On the opening Spade lead, the average player will win the Ace and lead a Spade back. West will win and probably return a Diamond. Declarer wins, finesses in trump, wins any return, pulls trump and runs the Clubs, making four.

A good defender will return a Club at trick two. Now, when declarer wins and finesses the Hearts, East wins and has to guess whether to get to West in Spades or Diamonds, in order to get a Club ruff.

A very good defender will make what is called a “discovery play” at trick one, by playing the Spade Queen. When it wins, East knows that the entry to West’s hand is in Spades. Now, when declarer takes the Heart finesse, East wins, and plays a low spade to West, who returns a Club, for down one.

There is not enough room in this article, so you have all week to figure out how declarer should play the hand to make it, after the best defense.

Questions: gary@smabridge.com

Lessons: 152-6351.