Bridge

Opening lead — ten of clubs.

Certain plays seem so natural that they are often made without the slightest pause for thought. The trouble is that every once in a while, the “automatic” play is incorrect because of special circumstances presented by a particular deal.

Consider this case where a serendipitous opening lead by West started declarer down an unhappy road to oblivion. Convinced that South had the king of spades for his two-notrump bid, West decided — correctly, as it turned out — not to lead that suit, opting instead for the neutral lead of the ten of clubs.

The ten was covered by the jack, queen and king, leaving South with only eight sure tricks. Since it seemed likely that West had led a club from a combination that included the 10-9, South next led a club to dummy’s eight. But when East produced the nine and returned the jack of spades, the roof caved in. When the dust settled, the contract was down two.

South certainly can’t be criticised for assuming that West had the nine of clubs — the opening lead of an unsupported ten, especially against notrump, is highly unusual. Nevertheless, the fact remains that he could have guarded against the possibility that East held the nine.

His error came at trick one when, instead of mechanically covering the ten of clubs with the jack, he should have followed low. Then, after East also played low, he should have allowed the ten to hold the trick!

The advantage of this play is that if West has another club, whether it is the nine or not, an extra club trick is assured, while at the same time East can never gain the lead for the potential killing spade shift.

Only if West’s ten of clubs is a singleton is the contract still in danger. But in that case, covering with the jack wouldn’t solve the problem either.