ACES ON BRIDGE

Today’s deal comes from the 2017 World Championships from Lyon, France.

Steve Weinstein declared three no-trump here against the Dutch and found an intriguing line. You might try to match him by looking only at the North-South cards.

When West somewhat surprisingly has a heart to lead against three no-trump, you take the third heart as West pitches two clubs. Plan the play. Weinstein led the club king from hand, ducked by West. Now declarer inferred that West was 1-6 in hearts and clubs, and the carding suggested West ought to be 4=1=2=6. If so, it would be futile to play diamonds from the top, as East would win the fourth and cash out. Similarly, if declarer played a second club, West would win and play back a club, breaking up any pressure in the ending. But what if West had the doubleton diamond jack? He would win his jack and return a spade, but you play a second club and set up your ninth winner. There are two points to note about this line: First, you must play a top club before ducking a diamond, or West can win and play a spade, killing your communications. The second is that West needed to duck the first club, or he would subsequently have been squeezed in the black suits.

Weinstein went for broke and made the brave play of a low diamond from hand. The line failed when East could win his diamond jack and run the hearts, but it was still a highly imaginative try, I thought.