Keep your eye on the danger defense

Voltaire, the nom de plume of François-Marie Arouet, pointed out that “it is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.”

In those days, that was true — just ask Galileo. In bridge, though, it might be dangerous if you make the wrong bid or play. In this deal, how should South play in three notrump after West leads the heart king?

South correctly opened one notrump despite the weak spades. If, for example, he had opened one club, and partner had responded one spade, South would have had no rebid. You just have to hope partner can cover your weak suit.

South has six top tricks: one spade, one heart and four diamonds. Three more winners are available from the clubs, but declarer must ask himself what might go wrong.

Obviously, the majors are potential problems. If West has five hearts and the club ace, the contract is going down. So South must hope that either hearts are 4-4 or East has the club ace. But it is also possible that a spade shift will be inconvenient. Still, declarer cannot worry about that at the moment; he must hold up his heart ace for two tricks.

If West perseveres with a third heart, South takes the trick and plays on clubs (perhaps after cashing the three diamond tops). But what happens if West shifts to the spade jack at trick three?

It is right to win with dummy’s ace and play on clubs. East surely has that ace, so dummy’s spade queen will be safe from attack. Similarly, if West holds the spade king all along, this play only costs an overtrick; here, finessing at trick three costs the contract.