WHEN THE LIE IS BAD, THE PLAY GETS BETTER

We have all heard the expression: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. But I did not know that this is an example of antimetabole: a repetition of words in successive clauses, but in transposed order.

In today’s deal, South is in four spades. What should declarer do after West leads the diamond king to South’s bare ace?

South starts with nine top tricks: seven spades, one heart and one diamond. There are four chances for a 10th winner: no spade loser, the heart finesse working, a club trick being established, or a club ruff on the board.

The major-suit finesses are unlikely to be winning. If West had the club ace and king, surely he would have led that suit in preference to the diamond king. So, the best shot is a club ruff in the dummy.

Anyone who went only that far would immediately lead a low club to dummy's queen. But East would take that trick and shift to his trump. South could win with his ace and play another club, but West would win with his nine and cash the spade king. The contract would have to fail.

Declarer must either keep East off the lead (to avoid that spade switch) or make it too expensive for him to win a trick.

South plays a heart to dummy's ace, then leads the club seven. If East rises with his king, declarer will get a club trick. If East plays low, West takes South’s jack with his ace but cannot safely lead a trump. Declarer ruffs the second diamond and plays another club. East wins and leads his trump, but South wins and ruffs his last club on the board. Tough!