Contract Bridge

Many deals develop into a battle for trump control, with the outcome hinging on which side ultimately gains control of the trump suit. This is one of the main reasons that the defenders so often adopt the strategy of leading a suit that forces declarer to ruff.

Thus, West’s method of attack at the start of play in this deal was routine. He led his three top clubs, forcing South to ruff the third one. Declarer then decided not to bother with a trump finesse, cashing the ace of hearts and continuing with the jack.

As a result, West suddenly found himself in the driver’s seat. He ducked the jack of hearts, and, when East showed out, South realized he could no longer make the contract.

If he continued with the nine of hearts, West would take his king and play a fourth round of clubs. Whether dummy ruffed this club or the next one, South would eventually go down two, losing two hearts and three clubs. If instead he abandoned trumps and simply led his spade and diamond winners, he would go down one.

But if declarer had played more carefully, he would have made the contract. After ruffing the club at trick three, South should have taken steps to guard against a possible 4-1 trump division.

He could have done this by playing the jack of hearts, not the ace, at trick four. If West takes his king, there is nothing he can do to stop the contract. If West refuses to take the king, South continues with the nine. Again, West is helpless, whether or not he takes the king.

If West elects to duck the nine also, South cashes the ace of trump and begins to play his spade and diamond winners. West scores his king of hearts, but nothing else. Proper handling of the trump suit does the job regardless of how West elects to defend.