bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xQ 10 8

uQ 8

vK 5

wK J 10 9 5 3

WEST EAST

xA 7 5 4 2 x6 3

uK 6 3 u7 4 2

vQ 10 2 vJ 7 6 4 3

wA 8 wQ 7 2

SOUTH

xK J 9

uA J 10 9 5

vA 9 8

w6 4

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1x 2w Pass 3NT

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of x

There is usually more than one way to tackle a hand. Sometimes one approach is clearly better than another; on occasion, however, there may be little to choose among the lines in theory but, practically, one is clearly superior.

With a positional double stopper in spades and a full opening bid, South’s decision to bid three no trump after North overcalled at the two-level cannot be questioned. Either a successful club or heart finesse would deliver the contract. Both had a 50 percent chance of succeeding. Does that mean they are equal?

Definitely not! West’s opening bid makes it likely that defender holds both the king of hearts and ace of clubs, but not necessarily the queen of clubs. Suppose declarer wins the spade lead in dummy and takes the heart finesse, and it loses. West will force out declarer’s remaining spade stopper and South has only eight tricks. When West regains the lead with the ace of clubs, the defender can cash enough spade tricks to beat the contract.

Better card reading should convince declarer to win the opening lead in hand and lead a club. West, a strong favorite to hold the ace for his opening bid, cannot afford to rise with that card and clear spades, because South can then safely finesse West for the queen of clubs and come to nine tricks even if it loses by spurning the heart finesse. When West follows low, declarer should rise with the king. If East wins with the ace and reverts to spades, the game is doomed. But when the king of clubs wins, declarer simply surrenders a heart trick and coasts home with nine tricks after developing a second trick in spades.

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