BRIDGE

Cy the Cynic says that a mistake is only as good as you make it. I’ll have to admit that today’s declarer perpetrated a beauty.

Against four spades, West led a heart, and East took the ace and shifted to a trump. South won and saw nothing better than to try some finesses. He led a diamond to dummy’s queen at the third trick, and East took the king and returned a diamond to the ace. South then ruffed a diamond and led a club to the king. He lost two clubs and went down one.

Could you do better as declarer?

I hope you wouldn’t be so eager to rely on finesses that will probably lose (East opened the bidding, after all). After South wins the first trump, he ruffs a heart in dummy, leads a trump to his hand and cashes his queen of hearts. South next leads a club to dummy’s 10.

East wins with the jack but must concede the 10th trick. Whether he takes his ace of clubs, leads a heart to give up a ruff-sluff or leads a diamond from his king, South is safe.

Question: You hold: ♠ 9♥ AJ1083 ♦ K1074 ♣A J 9. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

Answer: Slam is possible. If partner has a suitable minimum hand such as A 7 6 4,K7,AQ983,64,hemay take 12 or even 13 tricks at diamonds. But he could also holdKQ64,76,AJ53,Q43. Bid two clubs, a forcing bid in a new suit. You will support the diamonds next to let partner judge whether he has useful cards.