Bridge Play

This week’s deals have treated being in the right hand at the right time: managing your entries. Cover today’s East-West cards. How will you make five diamonds when West leads the king of spades? (East-West made it tough for you in the bidding; your partner’s raise to game was by no means clear.)

You will need luck: Finesses in both hearts and clubs must win, and you have only one obvious entry to dummy: the six of trumps.

Take the ace of spades and lead the king of trumps. West wins (East follows suit), cashes a spade and leads a third spade. Ruff high, preserving your five of trumps. Take the queen of trumps and lead the five to dummy’s six.

UNDERPLAY

South dealer N-S vulnerable

Next, lead the queen of hearts. If East follows low, underplay with your jack. You can let the ten ride next, and the lead will remain in dummy. Then you can lead a club to your queen, and when that finesse wins, you can claim.

Your technique was good, but you won’t be entitled to grumble about bad luck for a while.