The Bridge Corner
by Gary Mitchell

Opening Lead: Spade five


The bidding explained: South counted her hand to 20 points by adding a point for the fifth Club. This is standard.

The play: East wins the opening Spade lead and continues with the Queen. You know enough to play low, but win the third Spade. You now lead the Diamond Queen, and play low from dummy. East wins the King, cannot get over to partner’s Spades, and you romp home with 10 tricks.

However, what would happen if East plays low on the first Diamond, and does so without a care in the world? Your queen wins, and you do it again. East wins the King, and the roof just caved in. You will never get to use that Diamond suit, and will probably wind up down 2 or 3.

When there is a long suit in dummy, and there are no outside entries to that suit, don’t be in a big rush to set the suit up for declarer. By the way, if you as East, started with King of Diamonds, would you have the nerve to nonchalantly play low on the first Diamond lead? You should!

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