NO GUARANTEE, BUT A FAVORITE

W. Somerset Maugham, in "The Razor's Edge," wrote, "The fact that a great many people believe something is no guarantee of its truth."

The fact that everyone agrees a play is correct isn't always a guarantee of its success. In today's deal, what should East do? Against three notrump, West leads a fourth-highest diamond six to dummy's bare ace.

Despite his weak hearts, North was right to try to find a 4-4 fit in the suit given his singleton.

Declarer, hoping to win at least two spades, two hearts, one diamond and four clubs, will probably cross to hand in a major and run the club eight (or jack). If the finesse wins, he has at least one overtrick in his future. If the finesse loses, perhaps the defenders can take only three diamond tricks, the suit splitting 4-4. Or, as here, maybe they will take only two diamond tricks because the suit blocks.

Well, it blocks if East plays his diamond three at trick one. But if he and his partner have the sensible agreement that leading fourth-highest guarantees an honor in the suit, East should realize that one of his court cards is unnecessary. At trick one, he must sacrifice the jack (or king!). Then, when he gets in with the diamond king (or jack), he can lead the carefully conserved diamond three through declarer's 10-8 into the jaws of West's Q-9-7, permitting his side to collect one club and four diamonds.

bridge

DOWN 1 Stubbornly unyielding 2 Play 3 Cobbler’s model 4 Loyal and committed 5 Facial twitch 8 Impediment 10 Coax 14 Grey 15 Fool 17 Overburden

It is true that South might have started with 10-9-x-x in diamonds, but then the contract could not have been defeated. Copyright United Feature Syndicate (Asia Features)