Managing Assets

The bidding was the same at both tables in a team match and each declarer received the lead of a fourth-highest ♣3. Both declarers played the jack from dummy and both Easts covered with the king. Neither declarer wanted a diamond shift at this point, so they both won the first trick with the ♣A and led a low trump. After winning with the ♥A, both Wests exited with the ♣8 to East’s 10. The continuations were the same at both tables: the ♠A, then the ♣2.

At the first table, declarer ruffed the third club in the dummy, then drew trumps with the jack, king and queen. After cashing the ♠K and ♠Q, declarer led a low diamond to the queen. Alas, East discarded a spade on the ♦A and declarer conceded a diamond trick for a one-trick set. Can you improve on the first declarer’s line of play?

Solution

The declarer at the other table was more careful. He ruffed the third round of clubs with the ♥9 and continued with the ♥J. When East followed low, declarer overtook the jack with the queen. He was then in the correct hand to take a diamond finesse, which he did. When that succeeded, declarer led dummy’s ♥4, winning with the 8 when East followed with the 7. After drawing the last trump with his king, declarer cashed his spade winners and then led a diamond to the jack. Declarer had the ♦A for his tenth trick. The full deal: