Whether
you are playing the stock market or the game
of bridge, timing is everything. Cover the
East-West hands and play 4
on the lead of the
Q.
Neither side vulnerable East deals
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
Pass |
1 |
|
Pass |
2 |
Pass |
4 |
|
End |
|
|
|
Opening Lead:
Q
You can count nine tricks after the
A
is deposed. Unless diamonds are three-three
(with three-two trumps) the tenth must come
from hearts. If the
A
is onside the king will provide the game-going
trick and a heart ruff will secure an
overtrick. That's straightforward enough; to
follow this line you would cross to dummy in
trumps to lead a heart towards the king. Is
there any real danger in this plan?
Yes, there is. This is what will transpire: West takes the
K
with the ace and leads a second trump. When
you play a second heart East will win and
lead a third trump. You will be left with a
third losing heart (and a sure club loser)
and will take only nine tricks.
When the form of scoring does not place much emphasis on small total-point
differences it is of primary importance to
ensure your contract before thinking about
overtricks. In order to stay a tempo ahead
of the defence you cannot afford to play a
round of trumps yourself. At trick two lead
a heart from hand. If the defence switches
to trumps, win the king in dummy and lead a
heart towards your king. If the ace is on
your right you won't need a heart ruff in
dummy, but on a layout like the one in the
diagram West will win and lead a second
trump. Win in hand, ruff a heart with the
A,
and go about your business, drawing the last
trump when you reach your hand. You will
lose only two hearts and the
A.
Regardless of the location of the
A
your opponents will not have the timing to
deprive you of the vital heart ruff.
There are some other dangers on the deal (possible ruffs in clubs or
diamonds or a four-one trump break in
combination with a poor minor-suit lie) but
depriving yourself of the "sure" heart ruff
would be too painful to bear.
The four
hands were: