Bridge

The name of the play

An end play,

my topic this week, is more properly called a “throw-in,” or an “elimination.” Declarer removes a defender’s safe exit cards, then gives him the lead. True, that trick often occurs near the end of the play.

At today’s slam, South won the first club with the king, drew trumps and tried a spade finesse with his queen. That constituted an “end play” of a kind since it ended his chances early. West took the king, and East got a spade trick later for down one.

LAST CLUB

South wants to avoid taking a spade finesse, which might result in a second spade loser. He wins the first club in dummy, draws trumps, takes the K-A of diamonds, ruffs a diamond, cashes the ace of clubs and ruffs his last club in dummy. South then leads dummy’s last diamond.

As it happens, East shows out, and South can discard a spade — a loser on a loser. When West wins, he has no safe return. Aspade gives declarer a free finesse. A club lets him ruff in dummy and discard the queen of spades.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ♠ 10 5 2 ♥ A 10 9 3 ♦ A6 4 2 ♣ K 5. The dealer, at your left, opens one spade. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER:

Your partner has opening values or more with support for the unbid suits, especially the other major. You should have a chance for game. Bid four hearts. That bid is a tad aggressive, but you would compete with a bid of three hearts if your ace of diamonds were the jack.

West dealer

Both sides vulnerable