Bridge Corner

By Gary Mitchell, Feb 9, 2007

The bidding

North promised Spade support and 6–8 points. South could add and so went to game.

The play

Declarer covers the Heart Jack with the Queen, East plays the King, and declarer wins. Now, a Spade is played to dummy so that a Club can be led to the King. But the King loses to the Ace, and West returns a Spade. Declarer wins and leads a Club. West wins and leads another Spade. There are no more Spades in dummy, so declarer cannot trump his Club loser; down one is the result. 

Please learn to take the time to think before playing to trick one. This is a suit contract, so count your losers! You see three Club losers and one Heart loser. If you can trump a Club loser in dummy, you will make your contract. It isn’t necessary to win a Club trick with the King! Just win the opening lead and lead a small Club. Now you are one step ahead. The defenders cannot extract all the Spades from dummy before you are able to trump your third Club. 

Questions: gary@smabridge.com. 

Lessons: 152-6351.