Possibilities double your chance

Kin Hubbard said, “The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket.”

In a bridge deal, occasionally a player will worry about only one suit when he should also be considering other options. Doubling his chance of success is better, and benefiting from all four suits is best.

In today’s deal, how should South play in three no-trump after West leads the spade king and East signals with the two? What do you think about the auction?

West’s weak jump overcall certainly made life difficult for his opponents — this is why players pre-empt. North had an easy three-diamond response, the new suit at the three-level being a game-force. South had no real choice but to take a shot at three no-trump.

Then North was too strong to pass, in my opinion. A raise to four no-trump seems merited, but that would have been one too high here. The auction would have been even harder if East had raised to three spades, getting to the three-level with a nine-card fit. (Five diamonds can be made, but it requires good guesswork.)

In three no-trump, South must get home without losing the lead. It is too easy to assume that the diamonds will run. But if they don’t, from where can those nine winners come?

Declarer needs to see these nine: one spade, one heart, three diamonds and four clubs. After taking the second trick with the spade ace, play on clubs. When the jack drops on the second round, take the club 10, cross to the diamond king, cash the club king and claim.