BRIDGE

Even the very best theories and recommended practices for opening leads don’t work all of the time.

In a match, both NorthSouth pairs reached a sensible four spade contract after South rebid his spades as a rebid of three clubs would have promised extra values his hand didn’t have.

At both tables, a trump was never going to be led and a diamond, high or low, from a suit headed by an unsupported ace, didn’t appeal to one of the contestants either.

So out came the top-of-nothing six of hearts that set a problem for East, one he failed to solve successfully, as he contributed the eight as a form of finesse against dummy but a play that breathed life into South’s lone Queen.

Declarer continued by cashing three top trumps before turning his attention to clubs and running five winners there to seal the deal for ten tricks.

Five club winners, you say? Doesn’t seem possible looking at East’s holding. Except that defender had to find two discards while trump-drawing was going on and let’s just say his two club pitches weren’t optimal choices!

The other pair of defenders had a much easier time since their West picked the perfect layout to violate “don’t lead an unsupported ace” as his opening salvo of ace and a second diamond struck gold.

As did East’s return of the club Jack for a ruff that surprised everyone but West, who quickly played back a heart for his partner to win and deliver a second ruff.

Depending on which seat you might have been in, the bridge demonstrated on this deal was either very easy or ultra-aggravating!