Playing a Swiss Team Event at the club, your east-west opponents reach a three notrump game. Too bad for them, because with sure-footed defense and a little faith in partner, you can defeat that contract.
Playing a 12-14 notrump opening, west was obliged to start the bidding with one club. East's response showed 8-10 high card points and denied a four card or longer major. West's rebid promised 15-17 and east went on to game.
You led the three of hearts, and play to the first trick goes ♥3, ♥4, ♥J, ♥Q. Declarer then led the ♣4 from her hand to your ♣K, dummy's ♣6 and the ♣3.
What now? Make your choice and then scroll down for the complete hand.
Hint: North's play of the heart jack and east's denial of a 4-card major reveals the exact layout of the hearts. Do you see why? You should be ready for your next lead.
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♠ 8732
♥ J96
♦ AJ6
♣ 32 |
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♠ AKQ
♥ 54
♦ K74
♣ QJ1096
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♠ J109
♥ AQ10
♦ Q105
♣ 8754
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♠ 654
♥ K9832
♦ 932
♣ AK |
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North's heart play and east's denial of a 4-card major means that both north and east started with three hearts, and that east must still hold the ace and the ten.
With ace of hearts, North would have played the ace of hearts at trick 1 of holding it, and from J10x he would have played the ten if held, splitting a jack-ten holding from the bottom, rather than deny holding the ten by playing the jack.
So there is no way you should continue hearts into declarer's ace-ten at this point.
Fortunately, you can now play on an assumption that your partner holds the ace of diamonds. For if he does not, he will not be able to get in to make that crucial 2nd heart lead from his side of the table. Declarer will have enough time to establish clubs, and will make her contract with at least nine tricks.
So it's time to shift to the nine of diamonds. North should win this and return the seven of hearts, leading to a likely two-trick set.
Both the original opening lead and the subsequent diamond shift illustrate an important principle of defensive carding: A defender leads a low spot card to suggest a suit headed by some strength, and to encourage the return of the suit. Leading a high spot can often deny interest in having that suit returned.
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
