Contract Bridge

Most readers dislike fancy hands, preferring instead those that are simple, interesting and instructive. But in some deals, only a “fancy” play can do the job, and today’s deal provides a case in point.

West led a spade, won by East with the ace after dummy followed low. East then shifted to the three of clubs, on which South played low, forcing West to win with the king.

West now tackled a new suit, returning a low diamond, but by this time, the damage had already been done. Declarer won the diamond with the king, drew trump and then led the spade ten toward the Q-7. West took his king, and declarer easily scored the rest of the tricks to bring the contract home.

However, South would have gone down one against better defense. The turning point came at trick two, when East should have returned the ten of clubs instead of the three! Had he done that, it would have been impossible for declarer to make the contract. If South covers with the jack, which is the best he can do, West takes his king and returns a club, and declarer eventually loses two spades and two clubs.

How can East know to lead the ten of clubs rather than a low one at trick two? This would appear to be an abnormal play, since the standard lead with a holding as such Q-10- 8- 3 is the three (fourth best). But the presence of the 9-x-x in dummy necessitates that East alter the standard practice, as it protects against South holding the A-J-x or K-J-x. In these two cases, the defenders will score two club tricks after the ten is returned, but only one if a low club is led.

The deal provides an illustration of why one doesn’t play bridge by rote. Following general rules will win in the long run, but a serious bridge player reserves the right to figure things out for himself.