The composer could misplay too

One of the best devisers of bridge problems was Hungarian Robert Darvas. However, today’s deal, which he described, occurred at the table. I have a sneaking suspicion that Darvas was the declarer.

Against four hearts, West led the club eight. East studied this for some time before covering with the nine.

South had three top losers. He had to avoid a second heart loser, which was threatened by either a club ruff by West or via a trump promotion if West had A-10-x in hearts.

It was clear that if South played a trump immediately, West would win with the ace and receive the lethal club ruff. Instead, declarer played a spade to dummy’s king, cashed the spade ace, discarding the club king, and led a fourth spade, pitching his last club. Lucky, since West couldn’t unblock, South had cut the defenders’ communication with a Scissors Coup.

West returned his second club, ruffed by South. Declarer saw that he still couldn’t afford to lead a trump. West would win with the ace and exit with the diamond ace and another diamond. Trapped in the dummy, declarer couldn’t stop West’s heart 10 from winning the setting trick.

Correctly, South led a diamond toward dummy’s king, but carelessly he chose the nine. West grabbed his chance, covering with the 10. After winning with dummy’s king, declarer played a trump to his king. However, West won with the ace and underled his diamond honors. East won with the eight and returned a club, promoting the heart 10.

As Darvas said, playing the diamond nine was like kicking over a full bucket of milk after a long and tedious milking.