Each side can make nice plays

Who said, “Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant”?

In today’s deal, what do you think of the auction? How should the play proceed in three no-trump after West leads the diamond five?

The first round of the auction is fine. But North should not rebid a nonforcing one spade. He should either jump to two spades, which guarantees at least four spades and five clubs, or two no-trump, according to choice. (I slightly prefer two no-trump.)

It is sensible for West to lead the unbid suit, and he selects the five because the 10 is technically an honorcard (although I tend not to count it as such after trick one).

South starts with only four top tricks: two diamonds and two clubs. He can get at least two more winners from spades and two or three more from clubs. The best line is to take the first trick with the diamond king and immediately play a club to the 10. If that finesse loses, the contract was probably always failing. Here, though, the finesse wins. Declarer continues with a spade to his king. If that wins, he takes a second club finesse. In this layout, though, West takes the trick and leads another diamond. However, when the club queen drops, South makes an overtrick.

At the table, declarer played a club to the king at trick two, followed by a spade to the king. Now West won with his ace and carefully led the diamond 10 to unblock the suit. South went down two.

The initial observation was made by ... Cary Grant!