NEW CANADIAN BRIDGE

Monday, February 15, 2021

Declarer continued with a spade to the ace, followed by another. East rose with the king to return another trump but the game could no longer be defeated.

East should play a low spade in tempo where declarer will misguess by inserting the ten. West scores the jack to play another heart, eliminating any chance of success.

South was very unlikely to own the queen and jack of spades because he did not venture a spade finesse. It is, therefore, clear that East should play low on the second spade hoping that South would misguess the suit. Even if declarer did own queen-jack fourth of spades, playing low would save a trick.

West had made a good decision to begin with a trump that gave the defense a chance of setting the game. The lead of any other suit would present South with an easy path to ten tricks.

The major suit game would be a popular landing on this deal where the opening lead would be a determining factor. 3NT would likely yield nine tricks when West chooses a fourth best club but would not be reached at many tables.

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