NEIL HAYWARD BRIDGE

Contract: 4♥ by South

Opening Lead: ♦K, then ♦Q, and a trump switch. What is your plan?

Recommended Line: Bridge players love to take a finesse. But this hand illustrates the merits of getting them to help you, so that you don’t have to visit the casino, as it were. You complete the drawing of trumps, and play the ♣K, followed by a club, intending to put in the ♣8. As it happens, West puts in the ♣9, so you play the ♣J. East wins, but it is time to fly the white flag of surrender. A spade lead will be run around to dummy, ensuring you do not lose a spade trick. A club return sets up a trick for you, allowing a spade discard. And a diamond return is a welcome gift: you discard a spade in one hand, and ruff in the other. If you feel cheated because you were not able to experience the excitement of a finesse, it’s time to get some help.