Safer Than Sorry
K 4
Q 10 6 4
A Q 8 7 4
4 3
A Q 9 8
A 5
J 10 9 2
K 8 7
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| 1 ♦ |
Pass |
1 ♥ |
Pass |
| 1 ♠ |
2 ♣ |
3 ♦ |
Pass |
| 3 NT |
All Pass |
|
West led the
♣ Q, and East played the
♣ J, declarer ducking.
West then shifted to the
♥ J. This was covered in dummy
by the
♥ Q, East played the
♥ K and
declarer won the
♥ A.
Declarer (geno on OKbridge) now appeared to have nine tricks; three spades,
four or five diamonds, and two hearts. But if East got in before the tricks
could be run, he would be able to lead a club through declarer's king.
Declarer therefore took a basic safety play, playing a diamond to the
ace. He was rewarded when East dropped the
♦ K. Had
declarer taken the finesse, he would have been down 3, and if West had
the king, when he won it, he couldn't safely attack clubs.
The full deal was:
K 4
Q 10 6 4
A Q 8 7 4
4 3
10 7 2
J
6 5 3
A Q 10 9 6 2
J 6 5 3
K 9 8 7 3 2
K
J 5
A Q 9 8
A 5
J 10 9 2
K 8 7
West might set this contract by initially leading a low club to East's jack.
Declarer would have to win. Then it is no longer "safe" for declarer
to take the
♦ A first. Still, would West have passed South's
1 ♦ opening bid with a good club suit
and the
♦ K at
favorable vulnerability? An argument can be made to play for the drop still,
depending on West's overcalling style.