Complimentary Issue of Better Bridge Magazine March / April 2020 | Page 5

It’s always better
to have two
chances rather
than one.
We cross to the ♠K and lead another
diamond. East has no winning play.
If East plays low again, we win the ♦Q
and don’t have a diamond loser. If East
wins the ♦K, we play low. East can
lead a club, but we ruff, take a trick
with the ♦Q, cross to dummy with
the ♠A, and discard our remaining
spade on the ♦A.
Here’s the complete layout:
♠
♥
♦
♣
9 4 3 2
8 3 2
9 6
A K 7 4
A K J
J 6 5
A 7 4 2
J 8 5
♠
♥
♦
♣
n
w
e
s
♠
♥
♦
♣
10 8 6
A K Q 9 7
Q J 5
9 6
4♥
♠
♥
♦
♣
Q 7 5
10 4
K 10 8 3
Q 10 3 2
On the next deal, we reach 3NT.
West leads the ♠4 to East’s ♠A, and
East returns the ♠J.
♠
♥
♦
♣
LEAD
♠4
8 5
A 8 7
A J 7 5
K J 7 3
3NT
contract. We have two chances. We
could lead the ♥Q, hoping to trap
the ♥K if West has it. We can take the
♦K and lead a low diamond toward
dummy, planning to finesse the ♦J,
hoping West holds the ♦Q. Which
finesse gives us the best chance?
We can actually give ourselves two
chances. After winning the ♠K, we
can take the ♦A and ♦K. If the ♦Q
hasn’t appeared, we can then lead the
♥Q and try the heart finesse. This
lets us make the contract when this
is the actual deal:
extra diamond winner in dummy on
which we can discard the spade loser,
and the last club loser can be ruffed
in dummy.
Should we start by trying the heart
finesse? Unfortunately, that doesn’t
give us a second chance. If the finesse
loses, the opponents will take their
spade winner and we’ll eventually
have to lose two club tricks. How can
we give ourselves a second chance?
We should win the ♠A and
immediately play the ♥K and ♥A.
If the ♥Q appears, we can draw the
last trump, discard the spade loser
♠ 8 5
3NT
on the diamonds, and finish with an
A
8
7
♥
overtrick.
A
J
7
5
♦
♣ K J 7 3
What if the ♥Q doesn’t fall under
the ♥A-K? We still have a second
A
J
9
3
♠ Q 10 7 4 2
♠
n
♥ 10 5
♥ K 9 6 3 2 chance. We can start taking the
w
e
diamond winners. As long as the
♦ 10 8 6
♦ Q 9
s
defender with the ♥Q has three or
♣ 9 8 5
♣ 10 2
more diamonds, we will be able to
♠ K 6
discard the spade loser. We’ll lose
♥ Q J 4
only a heart and two clubs.
♦ K 4 3 2
A
Q
6
4
♣
This might be the complete deal:
If we try either the heart finesse or
♠ 9 6
the diamond finesse, we go down.
4♥
♥ K 7 5 4
However, when we play the ♦A-
♦ A Q J 2
K, the ♦Q falls. Our extra chance
♣ 7 5 4
pays off and we don’t need the heart
♠ J 8 5 3 2
n
finesse. In fact, we finish with an ♠ K Q 10 4
Q 9 2
♥
♥ 10 6
w
e
overtrick.
♦ 9 7 4
♦ 10 6 3
s
In our last deal, let’s go back to a ♣ K J 9
♣ Q 10 3
suit contract. We reach 4♥ and West
♠ A 7
leads the ♠K.
♥ A J 8 3
♠
♥
♦
♣
n
w
e
s
♠
♥
♦
♣
♠ A
K 6
Q J 4
K 4 3 2
A Q 6 4
After winning the ♠K, we have one
spade, one heart, two diamond, and
four club winners. We need one
more but we can’t afford to lose a
trick to the defenders since they have
enough spade winners to defeat the
LEAD
♠K
9 6
K 7 5 4
A Q J 2
7 5 4
4♥
n
w
e
s
♠
♥
♦
♣
A 7
A J 8 3
K 8 5
A 8 6 2
Assuming the five missing hearts
divide 3-2, we have a potential heart
loser, a spade loser, and three club
losers. In hearts, we could avoid
the loser with the help of a finesse
if East holds the ♥Q. We have an
♦ K 8 5
♣ A 8 6 2
If we try the heart finesse, it loses
to West’s ♥Q and West takes a
spade trick. Eventually we have to
lose two clubs. When we play the
♥A-K, however, and start playing
diamonds, West has to follow three
times. West can ruff the fourth round
of diamonds, but it’s too late. We’ve
discarded our spade loser.
In conclusion, whether playing in a
suit contract or a notrump contract,
we should always try to give ourselves
a second chance in case we need it.
We must often be careful about the
order in which we play the deal to
keep our second chance alive.
B etter B ridge . com
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