Source: IBPA Bulletin; February 10, 2005
I was having dinner with a friend after the second Board-a-Match qualifying session, and we were going over the hands.
“Board 23 was a dull push for us,” he said. “Four spades making in both rooms.”
“I guess it was no problem after a heart lead,” I said.
Then quickly covering the Deep Finesse analysis result, I asked, “Would you rather play or defend four spades?”
He thought a little and replied, “Play, obviously. Even on a trump lead, declarer wins the second trump and runs diamonds to pitch a heart.”
This was the deal:
“And what if North ducks the first trump?” I asked.
“Oh! You’re right! I guess I defend.”
“But did you notice the club position?” I went on. “Declarer can cash clubs to discard a heart while North is ruffing with a trump trick.”
“Oh! You’re right! I guess I play.”
“Unfortunately you go down.,” I said. “North ruffs the club, then underleads his heart to partner who gives him another club ruff with the ace. Then the spade ten is the setting trick.”
“Oh, so you can’t make,” he said.
“Are you kidding?” I exclaimed. “Four spades is cold!”
“But how?” he asked in exasperation.
“All East has to do is withhold the king of spades. Now the defence is left without recourse.