Contract Bridge

It is a basic principle of play that when a contract can be made only if the defenders’ cards are distributed in a particular way, you must assume that the required distribution exists. This is certainly sensible, since there can’t be much point in giving up without trying to make the contract.

Take this case where West leads a spade against South’s six-heart contract. At first glance the slam looks hopeless since the loss of a spade and a club appears to be preordained.

But situations like this are right up the alley of the declarer who enjoys a challenge. He tries to visualize East-West hands that would allow the slam to be made, and eventually comes up with one.

So, he wins the spade lead and cashes the A-K of hearts. He then stops drawing trump and plays the A-K of diamonds, followed by another diamond from dummy.

When East plays the nine, South, holding the Q-10, is at the crossroads. Should he play the ten or the queen? Actually, there is only one correct play, even without seeing the opponent’s cards. South must finesse because he has no chance for the contract unless East has the jack and the lone outstanding trump.

First, let’s see what happens after the finesse succeeds. South cashes the queen of diamonds, discarding the jack of spades from dummy as East helplessly follows suit. Declarer then ruffs the ten of spades and so ends up losing only a club trick.

It can thus be seen why the finesse is the only possible play. If the diamonds are divided 3-3, the opponent with the missing trump will ruff the 13th diamond, leaving South with two losers. His only real hope is to find East with four diamonds and three hearts. The odds are certainly against this possibility, but it is his only legitimate chance.