Contract Bridge

One of the most difficult assignments in bridge is to plan the play in advance and to visualize what the layout will look like with just a few tricks remaining to be played.

Fortunately, the task is often eased by information acquired during the bidding and/or from the opening lead. Today’s deal provides a case in point.

South reaches six hearts after West has overcalled in clubs, and the king of clubs is led. Declarer sees at once that the success of the slam depends on avoiding two diamond losers. Normally, he would consider trying a diamond finesse, but in view of West’s vulnerable overcall, the chance of the finesse succeeding is rather slim. An alternative is therefore sought.

The ideal solution would be to force West to lead a diamond into the A-Q at some stage, which would ensure the slam. But to achieve this denouement, West would have to be put on lead at a point where he had no choice but to make a losing return.

The desired position can be reached if declarer times his play correctly. The club lead is taken by dummy’s ace, on which a diamond is discarded. South then ruffs a club, plays the A-K of trump and ruffs another club. The A-K of spades are cashed, and a spade is ruffed in dummy.

With five tricks remaining, the preparation is complete. Dummy has a trump, three diamonds and the ten of clubs, while South has two trumps and the A-Q-6 of diamonds. The ten of clubs is led, but instead of ruffing it, South discards a diamond, thrusting West into the lead.

West can do no better than resign gracefully. He must either return a diamond into the A-Q or lead a club, allowing declarer to trump in dummy while discarding the queen of diamonds. Either way, the slam is home.