PLAY OF THE HAND
BY DAVID LINDOP
Being a
As declarer , we tend to focus on taking our tricks before the opponents can gain the lead and take their tricks . However , often , we cannot avoid losing tricks , we just have to pick the right time to lose them . Let ’ s look at some examples .
We reach a partscore of 2♠ and West leads the ♥K . What ’ s our plan ?
♠ A K
♥ J 8 2♠
♦ Q 10 9 4 3
♣ K 9 4 3 ♠ 7 4 3 n ♠ 9 5 ♥ K Q 9 5 w e ♥ 10 6 3 2 ♦ K J 7 s ♦ A 8 2
♣ Q 8 6
♣ A J 7 2
♠ Q J 10 8 6 2
♥ A 7 4
♦ 6 5
♣ 10 5 In a suit contract , we focus on losers . Here , we have two potential heart losers , two diamond losers , and two club losers . We need to eliminate at least one of the losers . We could plan to lead toward the ♣K , hoping West holds the ♣A , but that ’ s only a 50 % chance – which fails on the actual layout . A better plan is to ruff one of the heart losers in dummy . We can afford to ruff with one of the high trumps .
To ruff a heart loser , we must first give up a heart trick to the opponents . Suppose we win the ♥A and immediately lead back a heart , giving up the trick we have to lose . Now we are ready to ruff our remaining heart loser . There ’ s a problem , however . Suppose West
Good Loser
wins the ♥Q and , seeing what we are about to do , leads a trump . We win in dummy and …
Unfortunately , we can ’ t reach our hand without giving up a diamond or club trick to the opponents . As soon as we do that , they lead another spade and there goes dummy ’ s last trump . Good defense , but what can we do about it ?
When the ♥K is led , we can solve all our problems by letting West win this trick – taking our losses early . If West now shifts to a trump , it ’ s too late . We win in dummy and play a heart to the carefully-preserved ♥A and then ruff our last heart .
Taking our losses early is often a good idea . Suppose we reach 3NT and West leads the ♠4 to East ’ s ♠K :
♠ 7 2
♥ A Q 6 3NT
♦ 6 5 3
♣ A J 8 6 4 ♠ Q 10 8 4 3 n ♠ K 9 5 ♥ 10 7 5 w e ♥ J 9 3 2
♦ K 8
s ♦ 10 9 7 2
♣ 7 5 2
♣ K 3
♠ A J 6
♥ K 8 4
♦ A Q J 4
♣ Q 10 9 In notrump , we focus on winners . We have six top tricks : one spade , three hearts , a diamond , and a club . We need three more . We could get them from diamonds if East holds the ♦K and the six missing diamonds divide 3-3 . However , that ’ s against the odds . A better prospect is the club suit . We ’ ll get four extra winners if the club finesse works and three even if it doesn ’ t .
It might seem safe to win the first trick with the ♠A , cross to dummy with a heart , and try the diamond finesse . Even if it loses , West can ’ t lead a spade without giving us a trick with the ♠J . And , if the diamonds don ’ t provide the extra tricks , we can fall back on the club finesse .
On the actual layout , however , this plan won ’ t work . The diamond finesse loses , and the diamonds don ’ t break 3-3 , so we have to try the club finesse . It loses to East ’ s ♣K and East returns a spade to West ’ s spade winners , trapping our ♠J . We go down three – losing four spades , two diamonds , and a club .
Much better is to simply rely on the club finesse . To do that , we must first turn East into a safe opponent . We let East ’ s ♠K win the first trick . When East returns a spade , we play the ♠J , losing a second trick to West ’ s ♠Q . After winning the third round of spades with the ♠A , we take the club finesse . When it loses , East has no spade left to lead . If East did have a spade , the defenders ’ spades would originally have been divided 4-4 and we ’ d lose only one more trick .
On the actual deal , East wins the ♣K and leads a diamond . Enough losers ! We win the ♦A and take our nine tricks .
Choosing the right time to lose is the key on many deals . Suppose we reach 4♥ on the next deal and West leads the ♠Q . How do we plan to handle the trump suit ?
♠ A 9 5
♥ 8 6 3 2 4♥
♦ A 10 6 4
♣ 9 8
♠ Q J 10 n ♠ 8 6 4 2 ♥ K Q 9 w e ♥ J 10
♦ 8 2
s ♦ Q J 9 5 3
♣ Q 10 6 3 2 ♣ J 4
♠ K 7 3
♥ A 7 5 4
♦ K 7
♣ A K 7 5 We have a sure spade loser . We must hope the defenders ’ hearts are divided
2 Audrey Grant ’ s Better Bridge | January-February 2021