If only we could use clear mirrors

Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman orator, said, “All action is of the mind, and the mirror of the mind is the face, its index the eyes.” At the bridge table, all action is of the mind, which receives data from the eyes — the bids made (assuming you are using boxes, not bidding verbally) and the cards played. However, our choices would be much more accurate if we could use mirrors to see the other three hands. As an example, in today’s deal, what would West normally lead against four hearts? What would work better? The bidding went smoothly. After East opened one club, South made a weak jump overcall. West was not strong enough to compete with three clubs, especially when it might have been a 4-3 fit. North jumped to four hearts, chasing the vulnerable game bonus. Finally, East decided to stay out, not to make a valueshowing double (over which, presumably, West would have passed). West’s normal lead is the club 10. South, assuming trumps are 2-1, can see four potential losers: one spade, one heart and two diamonds. He needs to establish a diamond trick on which he can discard dummy’s low spade. He will ruff the club, cash his heart ace and play a diamond to the king and ace. Back comes a spade to dummy’s king. Now declarer leads the diamond six. When East plays low, South must guess to finesse his nine. But if West has a clean mirror, he will lead a spade at trick one, giving the defence the jump on establishing its spade trick, and leaving declarer with no chance.