Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell, Sept 29, 2006

The bidding 

The opening two Clubs bid creates a game-forcing auction. So, when South shows the Heart suit, North applies “the principle of fast arrival.” When in a game-forcing auction, the faster you go, the less you have. North goes directly to four Hearts, hoping that will end the auction. 

The play

West leads the Diamond Ace, and South sees four losers. Declarer can trump the opening lead, pull trump and run her Hearts, hoping that both defenders will fall asleep, or she can look around for a legitimate line of play to make the contract. Yes, there is one. Actually, four Hearts is unbeatable.

Look at dummy’s Diamonds. The Ace is gone, you have the Q109. All they have is the KJ. So, if you give up two Diamond tricks, you can get one. If you see this after you trump the opening lead, it is too late. You have to make your plan before you play to the first trick! You need two entries to dummy to set up a Diamond trick, and another to use the fourth Diamond. That makes three entries in all. Do you have them? Yes, in the Heart suit. But, only if you trump with a high Heart at trick one. You need all three of your little Hearts to get to dummy three times. 

So, trump the opening lead high, lead a Heart to dummy and play a Diamond, discarding from hand, say a Club. West wins the Jack and returns a Club (it does not matter what he returns). Win the trick, play a Heart to dummy and play another Diamond, discarding again. They can only get one Spade trick later, as one of your Spades is going away on the good Diamond. 

Plan before playing, please.

Questions: gary@smabridge.com 

Lessons: 152-6351.