Tell your story with the right cards

A. Whitney Brown, who is best known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” in the 80s, said, “There are a billion people in China. That means even if you’re a one-in-a-million type of guy, there are still a thousand guys exactly like you.”

At the bridge table, you’re a one-in-amillion type of guy or gal if you always play the right card at the right time, especially when on defense.

In this deal, what should West lead against three diamonds after the given auction?

The bidding was straightforward. Neither West (only three spades) nor East (no extra spade length or high-card strength) had any reason to compete to three spades, which can be defeated by one trick.

West should lead the spade seven. He supported the suit, so partner knows he has length. He leads top of nothing to deny an honor in the suit.

If West does this, East stands some chance of finding the right defense. He must win with the spade king and shift to the club king. (West should signal enthusiastically with his nine to show the jack.) A moment later, when West gets in with the heart ace, a club continuation gives the defense five tricks: two spades, one heart and two clubs.

If West leads the spade four at trick one, East will assume West has an honor in the suit, which must be the jack. It would then be safe for East to start with two spade winners before switching to clubs. Here, though, that is fatal because South discards a club from the dummy on his spade jack.