Goren on Bridge

Opening lead: King of ♣

Today’s deal is from a recent team game. At the other table, North-South rested in four hearts. South won the opening club lead with dummy’s ace and cashed the ace of hearts, discovering the 4-0 trump split. He cashed the ace and king of spades and ruffed a spade with dummy’s king of hearts. He drew trumps, finessing against East’s known nine, and then conceded a spade and a club to the opponents. Making five.

At this table South made an encouraging threespade bid. He liked his fifth trump and the queen of diamonds, which might have been an important card in partner’s suit. North drove it to slam from there.

Again, declarer won the opening club lead with dummy’s ace. Needing 12 tricks rather than 10, South saw that he would have to develop the spades. He needed a 4-2 spade split or better, so he immediately led a spade to his ace and cashed the king of spades. He ruffed a spade with dummy’s ace of hearts and led a low heart to his queen, learning about the bad trump split. He ruffed another spade with dummy’s king of hearts and led a heart to his eight. He drew the outstanding trumps, cashed his established long spade, and eventually conceded a club to the opponents. Making six!

The number of tricks you need will often determine the line of play that you take. The two declarers showed that on this deal.

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