Mad bridge party

“I know you think losing a trick can be better than winning one,” Alice said to the Queen of Diamonds as the players at the Mad Hatter’s game took a tea break. “Aren’t you ever willing to win?”

“Oh, if I must,” the Queen sniffed. “But I’m a far cry from my cousin the Queen of Hearts, who blusters about being the most powerful card in Wonderland, impervious to being captured.”

“Personally, I prefer winning more tricks than I lose,” Alice said, “but I understand your point.”

When the game resumed, Alice became declarer at today’s 3NT. North was the Hatter. He doubled one heart to give his side a chance to find a fit in the other major. If South responded two clubs, the Hatter would try two diamonds. Alice’s jump to 2NT suggested about 11 points with at least one heart stopper.

West, the Dormouse, led the five of hearts: seven, ten, jack. (Before you read on, choose your line of play.)

Alice saw that if she could run the diamonds, she would make an overtrick. But to take the king and finesse with the jack was unattractive; if the finesse lost, a heart return by East would be fatal. So Alice was about to take the K-A when she spotted a slight extra chance: At Trick Two she led the three of diamonds.

When West’s queen appeared, Alice gave the Queen of Diamonds a wink and let the queen win. She won the spade return with the ace, took the king of diamonds and went to dummy to run the diamonds. Making three.

Unless declarer starts the diamonds by leading the three, she fails.

West dealer

N-S vulnerable