Bridge: May 5, 2024
A club player brought me today’s deal.
“I know the definition of ‘discretion,'” he said. “It’s when you think you’re right about something — but you check with your wife to make sure.”
He and his wife had reached four hearts after East opened one spade. West led the ace and jack of spades, and East won and led a third spade.
“West ruffed my nine with the seven of trumps,” my friend said. “I overruffed with dummy’s nine, led a trump to my ace and then led the ten of spades. When West discarded, I threw a diamond from dummy. But when I led a diamond to the queen next, East won and led the jack of trumps, removing dummy’s last trump, and I lost another diamond.
“I thought the contract was hopeless, but to be sure, I consulted my wife.”
“What did she say?”
“A lot. First she said I had no business bidding four hearts. She said she might have bid four herself, but she didn’t trust my dummy play. Then she said the contract was cold.”
Instead of overruffing West on the third spade, South must pitch a diamond from dummy. If West shifts to a diamond, South takes the ace, declining to finesse since East opened the bidding. South then takes one high trump and leads the ten of spades. When West can’t ruff, dummy discards the queen of diamonds. South ruffs a diamond in dummy, ruffs a club and ruffs his last low diamond. He wins six trump tricks in his hand, a spade, the ace of diamonds and two ruffs.
The winning line of play is indicated. If West has three trumps, the contract can’t be made.
East dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S Q 6
H 9 6 2
D A Q 5
C K 9 6 5 2
WEST
S A J
H 8 7
D J 6 4 3
C J 8 7 4 3
EAST
S K 8 7 5 2
H J 5
D K 10 9
C A Q 10
SOUTH
S 10 9 4 3
H A K Q 10 4 3
D 8 7 2
C None
East South West North
1 S 2 H Pass 3 H
Pass 4 H All Pass
Opening lead — S A
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