BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

HoW do you play West in 4 ♠ after North leads ♠ 4? I KeeP harping on about the importance of planning your line before you start to play the hand. There are sometimes a few things to think about, so you’re entitled — indeed expected — to pause for a while before starting play. The ability to plan well (even when it fails) distinguishes the good from the average player.

You should always count your winners and losers, assess any significance of the lead and spot whether there are any threats to your contract, and, if so, can they be avoided.

The obvious threat on this hand is that North might be sitting over your vulnerable diamond holding. If you take a losing club finesse, South will surely switch to diamonds and you’ll be doomed. Can you see a way to avoid this?

You have a very good chance if the heart honours are divided. You win the lead in dummy and lead a low heart to your 9 — unless South plays an honour.

Let’s assume North wins and plays another trump: you win and cash ♥ K, then club to the ace (spurning the finesse). You discard your second club on ♥ A and take a ruffing finesse against South in clubs. North might win, but you have protected your ♦ K.

This line might cost you an overtrick or two when North holds ♣ K, but it will save your contract when South has it. In fact, the other hands are: North: ♠ xxx ♥ Jxx ♦ AQxx

♣ xxx; South: ♠ x ♥ Qxxxx ♦ J10x ♣ Kxxx.