Bridge

This was a well-played hand. When various suits might supply the extra tricks needed for the contract, it’s best to try them in the right order, often playing each differently to the way you would in vacuo.

South opened with One No-Trump (15-17) and North raised to Three No-Trumps.

West led the deuce of hearts and declarer had no reason to doubt that it was fourth highest from a four-card suit, as he and his partner had shown no interest in the major suits during the auction. (OK – it could have been the lowest from a three-card suit, but unlikely, as that would have given East six hearts and he had failed to open with a Weak Two bid.)

East won with the ace and returned the eight to South’s king. Declarer could now count on seven sure tricks. There are various options available for the other two, and South began by cashing the ace and king of clubs. Not the optimum way of tackling the suit if the contract depended on finding the queen, but right in combination with the other chances. East discarded a diamond. Next came queen then ace of spades, hoping for the knave to drop. No joy there either, so South finessed the diamond queen, which held.

Declarer cashed the ace of diamonds and West was in trouble. If he played the diamond king, South’s jack would be the ninth trick. If he followed low, South could count him for a 2-4-3-4 distribution. Which meant he could then finesse the spade 10 with impunity.