Success Requires Two Good Plays

Wendell Johnson was a psychologist, an actor and a proponent of General Semantics. He said, “Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.”

In bridge, you can rarely use the words always and never. But “two” is relevant to this deal.

What is the outcome in three notrump after West leads his fourth-highest heart?

If you and your partner play regularly together, discuss using minor-suit transfers, although they come up rarely. Here, North could show game-going values, long diamonds and a singleton (or void) in hearts. These transfers are described on my website.

Win at Bridge Phillip Alder

South starts with seven top tricks: two spades, two diamonds and three clubs. He will work on diamonds to get (at least) two more winners. Yes, he could lose four hearts and one diamond first -- but only if West makes two good plays.

After East wins the first trick with his heart ace, he returns the nine, the higher of two remaining cards. This should tell West that South started with four hearts (or five, but then the contract would be unbeatable). When trying to establish a suit in which an opponent will get one trick, give it to him as quickly as possible. So, West must duck the second trick.

South will then cash his diamond ace. West needs to realize that East has to win a trick for another heart lead through South, and if that entry card is the diamond jack, West must unblock his queen. If he does not, declarer lets West win the second diamond with his queen and the contract makes with at least one overtrick. (If South has the diamond jack, West’s play is irrelevant.)

When West throws away his diamond queen, the contract must fail.