| Show BETTER BRIDGE ty ly C. C K H. Both sides vulnerable South deals NORTH NORTHA A 10 6 V Q 74 4 A Q 10 7 5 WEST VEST EAST A 10 8 J 9 5 2 63 SOUTH A K 10 5 3 The bidding South West est North East 1 14 1 14 A 2 4 Pass 2 NT Pass 3 NT Pass Pass ass Pass Opening lead Queen of spades It is not very ery often that declarer de- de I larer clar r should attack his weakest suit uit in the play of a no trump hand yet fet et If that Is part of the general strategy for the success of the contract common sense dictates I that hat it should be done I The bidding was normal enough I with the exception of West's Vests vulnerable vulnerable ul I overcall o of oC one spade I which can be justified on no other ground bround than the desire to live dan- dan The queen of oC spades was opened I and taken by the king There is a I strong trong temptation to develop immediately immediately immediately im im- im- im mediately the diamond suit which I Iwas was vas to provide the bulk of ot the tricks ricks The overcall made it probable probable probable able that the missing honor in that suit was held by West Vest and that the he finesse would therefore suc suc- However there was no need to 0 take that for granted Reliance should not be placed upon the discretion of an adversary ersary when j it t is not necessary to do so If West Vest held the king the hand could not be lost for the finesse could be taken just as effectively ely later in n the play That the had the theace theace theace ace of hearts is far tar more probable probable probable I able than that he has the king of I diamonds l If the diamond finesse should fail the spade would be beI I established while West Vest still held I the he ace of ot hearts and only eight I I tricks would be available to de de- I It is vital therefore to 11 I get by with a heart trick first On this line of reasoning declarer declarer declarer de de- I immediately returned the three of hearts West Vest was obliged I to play low and the queen held the trick The closed hand was then entered with the king of ot clubs and the diamond finesse tried This lost to East but declarer had nine tricks in the bag The only risk Incurred in this I Iline line of play was that West Vest in addition addition ad ad- to his spades held ace jack jackin in hearts and that East on winning the diamond finesse would return his now singleton heart a state of affairs that may be regarded as quite remote Tomorrows Tomorrow's problem As South you hold A K Q 10 5 4 2 y 9 6 3 4 10 K 10 4 1 The bidding bidding- h has ha's s proceeded North East Ea t South West Nest et 1 A 4 e Pass 1 14 A I.- Pass Pals S I 3 V y Pass Pasa 3 A 4 Pass I 4 44 A Pass What do you bid now now I Copyright 1948 C. C H. H Goren |
