The Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell



Opening Lead: Spade nine

The bidding explained: this is strictly a matter of arithmetic. South adds his 19 points to his partner’s 6-8 point raise and bids game. 

The play: Declarer calls for the Spade Jack at trick one. East covers with the King and South wins the Ace. South plays the top two Hearts, and finds out he has a Heart loser. Then comes the Club Ace and a Club to the King. A third Club is trumped, and dummy’s Clubs are good. South exits a Heart, East wins and leads a Diamond. The defense takes its two Diamond tricks, but that’s all. Declarer’s Spade loser goes away on the good Club in dummy. 

Could the defenders have beaten this contract? No peeking at the answer!

There is a basic defensive rule in bridge. Never lead away from an Ace against a suit contract. Please notice the word “never.” With the Spade lead, East should know that declarer has the Spade Ace. So, why cover the Jack with the King? You just gave declarer a later entry to dummy. Don’t cover the first Spade. Now declarer has four losers. Two Diamonds, a Heart and a Spade. He can set up the Clubs, but cannot get there to use them. 

Questions: email me at gary@smabridge.com.  Lessons: call 152-6351.