The Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell, June 8, 2007

Opening Lead: Spade 3

The bidding explained: An opening 2NT bid shows 20-21 HCPs. South has 19, but the fifth Club makes her hand worth 20. 

The play: South counts three major suit tricks, and the Club Ace. Five more are needed. Setting up the Diamonds seems like a plan. So, she leads the Diamond Jack, and it wins. She next plays a second Diamond to the Queen, which is also allowed to win and realizes she will not be able to set up and use the Diamonds, as there is no entry to the dummy. So, she now finesses the Club, which wins. She has four tricks in, and can get three more. She cannot set up the Club suit, as she cannot get to dummy to repeat the successful Club finesse. She is going down. 

Once South counted that she needed five extra tricks, she should realize those tricks cannot come from the Diamond suit alone. South also needs some Club tricks. 

Therefore, she should plan the play to attack both suits in a way that maximizes her chances. Begin the attack by playing the 8 of Diamonds to the 10. East plays low to stop you from using the Diamond suit. Now take a finesse in Clubs. When that wins, play the 9 of Diamonds to the Queen. Again, East must play low or the Diamond suit will come in. Repeat the Club finesse. Then play Ace and another Club to establish still another Club trick for you.

That will give you two Spades, one Heart, two Diamonds and four Clubs. If East takes the Diamond Ace early, you get two Spades, one Heart, four Diamonds and three Clubs, for an overtrick.

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