Contract Bridge

When declarer is confronted with what appears to be a laydown contract, he must first ask himself, “What can defeat me?” The failure to ask this one simple question has been responsible for the demise of many a makable hand.

Consider today’s deal where South was in six diamonds and West led the queen of clubs. Declarer won with the ace and promptly played the king, ruffed by East. East returned a trump, and South found himself fighting a losing battle.

He won the trump in his hand, ruffed a club with the diamond king and discarded another club on the heart ace. But South had no place to put his remaining small club, and he ended down one.

Declarer was very unlucky to run into a 5-1 club division, but if he had taken this possibility into account and sought a means to deal with it, he might have found the way to assure the contract.

South can see that the slam is sure to make if the adverse clubs are divided 3-3 or 4-2. He can ruff a club with the diamond king in either case, guaranteeing at least 12 tricks.

However, he should also think about the possibility of a 5-1 club split. Should that exist, the contract is in danger. If South tries to cash a second high club prior to ruffing a club in dummy, an opponent might ruff, as in the actual deal.

To cater to this possibility, as well as the normal 3-3 and 4-2 breaks, declarer should invoke a safety play. Rather than try to cash his second high club, he should lead a low one instead!

West wins the trick but cannot do anything to stop the contract. South has only two small clubs left, one of which can be trumped with dummy’s king while the other can be discarded on the ace of hearts.