Trump temptation temporarily taboo

When declarer wins his first trick, should he immediately play a trump?

In particular, if he is missing the trump ace or his loser count is too high, he should think twice.

This deal was played by one of the world’s best declarers, Geir Helgemo. He was born in Norway, but represents Monaco in international competitions. How did he play in five diamonds after West led the spade king?

Many Americans would open that North hand with one diamond, but if partner is going to be on lead, one club has more going for it. The awkward auction for one club occurs if East overcalls one spade, South makes a negative double, and West passes. Neither of North’s choices, one no-trump or two hearts, is thrilling. But each could work better than opening one diamond and rebidding two clubs in that scenario. (I like one club, planning to rebid one notrump when West does not raise spades.)

With two trump losers, it looked as though Helgemo needed luck in clubs, which, you will have noticed, he was not getting. But Helgemo found the way home.

He ruffed the spade lead, crossed to the heart queen, ruffed the spade queen, cashed the heart ace and king, played a club to the ace and led the diamond queen; maybe East would have covered with king-doubleton. Not here, but East was now endplayed. When he led a spade, declarer discarded a club from his hand and ruffed on the board. Next, South cashed the club king. When West pitched a spade, Helgemo exited with a trump to endplay West. On his major-suit return, Helgemo ruffed in the dummy and sluffed his last club. Pretty!