BRIDGE

East Pass Pass South 1 2 West Pass Pass Opening Lead: 9. East plays two top hearts, then leads the Q. What is your plan? Recommended Line: You might be thinking: “Aunt Mildred said: Eight ever, nine n ever.”

Here, with nine trumps between your hand and dummy, you might plan to try to drop the missing queen, rather than finessing.

While Aunt Mildred’s advice might be fundamentally sound, it should add: “unless your analysis tells you to do something different.”

In this case, East, who passed as dealer, has shown 10 points: seven in hearts, and three (inferred) in clubs. East would have opened the bidding if holding the Q as well.

So, you win, play the K, and finesse the T. Eleven tricks. Nine to Aunt Mildred.

The problem with a rhyme, is that it works only some of the time.