BRIDGE with Bob Jones

West tried to muddy the waters by opening a 15-17 one no-trump with only 14 points — a tactic seen more and more often these days. North-South had a delicate auction to their best game contract, though no game is particularly sound. South did well to choose a contract of three no-trump, as even three spades can be defeated. Two high clubs and a club ruff, followed by a diamond shift, will see the defense come to five tricks provided West ducks his ace of spades when South leads that suit.

South won the opening diamond lead with his ace and led a low spade to dummy’s king as West ducked his ace. A low club off the board was next. It is easy to see, looking at all four hands, that the defense would have defeated the contract had East risen with his jack of clubs. That play is not easy to make at the table, so let’s give South credit for his deceptive play.

South’s 10 lost to West’s king, and West erred by continuing with another diamond. This allowed South another entry to lead a second spade. West ducked his ace again, but South won with dummy’s queen and exited with the nine of spades. Whatever West did now, South had an entry with the eight of spades to cash his high diamond and he finished with nine tricks.

A better defense for West would be to shift to hearts instead of leading a second diamond. The play gets complicated after that, but it appears that South can get home with careful play.