Bridge

South is in four spades. What happens after West leads the diamond 10?

South’s sequence, a takeout double followed by a new-suit bid after a minimum advance in a suit by partner, showed at least a five-card suit. This was a slight overbid because the red-suit honors rated not to be pulling their full weight, and South had a six-loser hand.

West leads the diamond 10, high-low with a doubleton. East wins with his queen, then cashes the diamond ace.

Knowing that declarer has a diamond and that partner is out, there is a reaction to lead a third diamond. Surely West can ruff higher than dummy’s spade six. West will play a heart to his partner’s ace, and another diamond will produce a trump promotion for down two, West having started with king-eight-doubleton in spades.

Fine, except that West cannot ruff higher than the board, and declarer collects an overtrick.

At trick three, East should cash the heart ace. West will signal with the eight, and a second heart will defeat the contract. But if West doesn’t have the heart king and does have a spade higher than dummy’s six, he will discourage in hearts.