Goren on Bridge

South won the opening heart lead with dummy’s queen. It might seem like a poor lead, but no other lead would have been better, as South would then have plenty of time to set up dummy’s diamond suit.

Declarer realized that all of the important missing high cards were with West for his opening bid. The club suit would only produce three tricks for him and that would leave him one trick short. South crossed to his hand with a spade to the jack and led a low diamond. He was hoping West would duck this and let the king of diamonds take the trick. South would then take the losing club finesse but he would have nine tricks.

West was too smart to let this happen. He rose with his ace of diamonds and led the king of hearts, knocking out declarer’s ace. South now could not play on clubs at all. West would win his king and cash three heart tricks. Along with the ace of diamonds, that would give the defense five tricks.

Needing diamond tricks for his contract, South led a low diamond and inserted dummy’s 10 when West played low. Success! East, with no hearts remaining, shifted to a club. South rose with his ace and now had 10 tricks — three spades, two hearts, four diamonds and one club. It turned out that West’s smart-looking play of rising with the ace of diamonds cost him a trick. Had he ducked his ace, South would happily have settled for nine tricks.