The Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell 

Opening Lead: Heart Queen

The bidding explained: South’s double was Negative, promising exactly four Spades. 

The play: On the opening lead, East signaled encouragement with the nine. However West had no more Hearts so he switched to a Club which declarer won in dummy. Declarer was now able to play on Diamonds and is one step ahead of East who tries to set up his Hearts. Declarer winds up with 10 tricks. 

Should and could this have been defeated? 

If East stops to realize that he has two outside entries and declarer only has two Heart stoppers, East should overtake the Heart Queen with the King. South wins and leads a Diamond. East wins and knocks out South’s Heart Jack. When East gets in again with the other high Diamond, he takes his Heart tricks for down two. Can overtaking the Heart cost East a trick? South has either one or two Heart stoppers, but never more. Overtaking may give South a second stopper, but it is the best chance to defeat the contract.

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