The Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell

Opening Lead: Club five

The bidding explained: When North shows Spade support and 9-11 points, it is easy for South to bid the game.

The play: East wins the first two Club tricks and switches to the Heart Jack. Having seen this situation many times before, you win the Ace. You next play a Diamond to the Ace, trump a Diamond with a high Spade. Then play a Spade to the 7, trump a Diamond with another high Spade. Play a Spade to the 9, trump a fourth Diamond with a high Spade. Finally, play a Spade to the Queen, cash the fifth Diamond pitching a Heart and claim ten tricks. That was as easy as 1-2-3. So, then what is this article about?

It is about East’s Heart switch at trick three! Assuming South has any Heart losers, where can they go? Look at dummy. Where can the Heart losers go? You, East have Diamonds well stopped, except for that fifth Diamond. So, if declarer is going to need to set up that fifth Diamond, he is going to need a lot of entries to dummy. Take one away right now. At trick three, lead a Spade. Declarer is now short one entry to dummy.

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