If you subscribe to the dictum of “when in doubt, win the trick,” you need to cancel your subscription. Declarer may gain by executing a “hold-up play”: refusing to take a winner at the first opportunity.
In today’s deal, West, who overcalled in spades, leads the six against 3NT, and East plays the ten. If declarer wins the trick and finesses in clubs, East takes the king and returns his last spade, and West defeats the contract with four spade tricks.
FIRST SPADE
South doesn’t need a spade trick to make 3NT: He can see two hearts, three diamonds and at least four clubs. He can’t afford to lose four spades and a club. Since West’s overcall marks him with at least five spades, South should let East’s ten win the first spade. When East returns a spade, declarer plays the jack.
West can take the king and ace, but South loses only one more trick to the ace of clubs. If instead West takes the king and shifts, South finesses in clubs and again loses only four tricks in all.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 8 5 H 8 7 3 D A 9 4 C A 10 9 5 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, you respond (“advance”) two clubs and he then bids two diamonds. What do you say?
ANSWER: If partner had a fair hand with a diamond suit, he would have overcalled two diamonds. To double and then bid a suit, he promises substantial extra strength. With diamond support and two aces, you must not pass. Bid three diamonds or cue-bid two hearts.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 8 5
H 8 7 3
D A 9 4
C A 10 9 5 2
WEST
S A K 9 6 3
H Q J 9 6
D 10 5
C 6 4
EAST
S 10 7
H 10 5 4 2
D J 8 7 3 2
C K 7
SOUTH
S Q J 4 2
H A K
D K Q 6
C Q J 8 3
South West North East
1 C 1 S 2 C Pass
2 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — S 6
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