Goren on Bridge

Declarer rose with dummy’s ace of clubs at trick one and led the queen of spades for a finesse. He continued with a spade to his jack and the ace of spades, drawing trumps. A diamond to dummy’s king lost to East’s ace. Had East cashed the king of clubs and continued with the jack of clubs, South would have ruffed and almost certainly led a diamond to dummy’s 10. That would have been the percentage play in the diamond suit.

East couldn’t resist the urge to make a deceptive play and led the nine of hearts. This wasn’t a hard play for declarer to get right. What good player would make a dangerous lead away from the queen of hearts with safe club plays available? South rose with his king of hearts, winning the trick, and led his remaining heart. West played low, after some thought, as did dummy, and East won with his ace. East cashed the king of clubs and continued with the jack, ruffed by South.

Declarer delayed his diamond play and cashed another trump, shedding the nine of diamonds from dummy as West also discarded a diamond. Declarer led his last trump and West had to shed another diamond to keep his queen of hearts. Dummy discarded the jack of hearts. South led a diamond and West followed with a low diamond. West’s last card was known to be the queen of hearts, so declarer rose with dummy’s queen of diamonds, dropping the jack, and brought home his ambitious contract.