Contract Bridge

whether, after taking the ace of clubs, it is better to try a trump finesse or a diamond finesse. It is true that South might have either king, and to that extent either finesse has a 50-50 chance of winning. But insofar as making the contract is concerned, you are much better off to start with a diamond finesse.

If South has the king of diamonds, your worries are over, because you will next play the ace and another trump, planning to repeat the diamond finesse later on. If the diamond finesse loses, you will then have to hope South started with the singleton or doubleton king of spades to avoid a trump loser.

A key factor here is that an early trump finesse does not necessarily make the slam even if it succeeds, because South might have been dealt four or five trumps to the king, while the diamond finesse makes the slam if South has any number of diamonds including the king. The diamond finesse is therefore the better play.

2. Draw three rounds of trump and cash the king of spades, discarding a club from dummy. Then play a diamond to the king, and, if both opponents follow suit, you are sure to make the contract. Continue with the jack and, if South follows low, finesse.

If the jack wins, you make at least 12 tricks, while if it loses, the slam is still certain, since North must return a club or hand you a ruff-anddiscard.

If South shows out on the jack of diamonds, the slam is still assured. In that case, you take the jack with the ace and put North on lead with a diamond, forcing him to make the same losing return.