HOW TO SLOW DECLARER'S ADVANCE

N ewman's first law: “It is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down.”

Paul Newman particularly loved Joanne Woodward, his seven children, acting and motor racing. Yesterday, we watched declarer zoom to the finish line in this four-heart contract by ruffing his low diamond on the board with the heart jack. But how could East-West have put the brakes on South's progress? Is it possible if West leads the club nine (or six)?

After West's minimum opening bid, North's takeout double and East's response, South bids what he thinks he can make.

Since declarer made four hearts yesterday by ruffing a diamond on the board, obviously the easiest way to defeat the contract is for the defenders immediately to play three rounds of trumps. Of course, that is easier said than done.

If West leads a spade (either the ace or a lower one), and his side shifts to hearts at trick two, that is also good enough.

But what about lead?

At first glance, that might not appear to be successful — but it is, if East and West are as skilled as Formula One drivers!

South wins the first trick, cashes his two top diamonds and ruffs his low diamond with dummy's heart jack. However, East overruffs with his heart ace and returns the club 10, the high card being a suitpreference

bridge

a club spades.

Declarer takes that trick and plays a trump, but West wins and shifts to the spade three. East wins the trick and gives his partner a club ruff. Vroom, vroom. Copyright United Feature Syndicate

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