BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xK 7 4

uA 8 6

vK 9 5

wJ 9 6 4

WEST EAST

x10 2 xJ 9 8 5

uK 9 7 3 2 u10 5

vQ 4 2 v10 8 6 3

wK 3 2 wA 7 5

SOUTH

xA Q 6 3

uQ J 4

vA J 7

wQ 10 8

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 3NT All pass

Opening lead: Three of u

The opening heart lead went to East’s 10 and South’s queen. Declarer continued with the queen of clubs to East’s ace, and East returned his remaining heart. South played low and then allowed West’s nine to hold the trick. West continued with a heart to dummy’s ace, establishing his long hearts. Declarer led a club to his 10, trying to set up his long clubs, but West was able to win and cash two more heart tricks for down one. Three no trump failed with a combined 27 high-card points. Was South unlucky or could he have done better?

South could certainly have done better! East would not have played the 10 of hearts at trick one if he held the king, so the king of hearts was marked with West. Declarer should have allowed East’s 10 of hearts to hold the first trick. East can do no better than to return a heart. South will win this trick appropriately whether or not West plays the king, and then play a club. West can win and clear the hearts, but he has no entry to enjoy the established suit, Should East win the first club, he has no heart remaining and will have to attack another suit, to no avail. Declarer will finish with three spade tricks and two tricks in every other suit. Making three!

Many a makeable contract fails due to a poor play at trick one. It pays to give trick one some extra thought.

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