You may have seen this theme before

Laura Moncur, an author, wrote, “As difficult as it is to have company within one’s house, the absence of company is more so. The quiet echoing of solitary footsteps within the halls is suddenly amplified without the voices of excited guests.”

This deal might produce an echo in your mind. How should South play in three no-trump after West leads a heart?

At Bridge Base Online, most Wests led a spade because that suit was fractionally stronger. My wife and I, though, use the weak no-trump, so our auction started one club - one spade - one notrump, and we ended in three no-trump instead of six clubs, which we would have reached but for a misunderstanding. Then, though, we faced a heart lead.

The theme of this contract is the same as yesterday’s. Declarer can get home if either black-suit finesse works. So, should he cash the two top spades and fall back on the club finesse if the spade queen has not dropped? Or should he cash the club ace, then take the spade finesse if the club king did not appear?

Yesterday, I said to cash the top tricks in the suit with the greater number, then, if the missing honor does not appear, to finesse in the other suit. There are two top spades, but only one top club. However, does having nine clubs and only six spades alter the odds?

Yes! West will have a singleton club king 12.5% of the time. East will have a doubleton spade queen only 4.4% of the time. So, the right play is to cash the club ace, then, if necessary, to fall back on the spade finesse.