Make declarer guess correctly

We are looking at second hand low ... and, as we shall see later in the week, second hand high.

It is very important for defenders to make declarer guess well to land his contract. They must not make things easy for him.

The spade suit in this deal is one example. How should South plan the play in six hearts? West leads the diamond 10.

After South opens one heart, North understandably launches into Blackwood, signing off in six hearts when he learns that one ace is missing. He expects South to claim, but the mirror distribution means that play has to proceed.

South, who can afford to lose only one spade trick, wins trick one in the dummy, draws trumps, cashes all of the minor-suit winners ending in his hand, and leads a spade. If West wins with the ace, it is all over, declarer claiming. So, let's assume West plays low. Now South calls for dummy's queen. (This is a better play than immediately finessing dummy's 10.) If East takes the trick, he is endplayed, forced either to return a spade or to concede a ruff-and-sluff. So, let's assume East also plays low.

Declarer returns to his hand with a trump and leads another spade. Again, if West wins with the ace, South claims. So, let's assume West plays low. Declarer has a guess. He might or might not get it right. But at least the defender with the ace -- whether it is East or West -- did his best.

Finally, note that both West and East must play low so smoothly that the kibitzers think the deck is missing the spade ace.

Copyright 2009, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

North

@date2:11-03-09

@handtext: SPADES K Q 10

HEARTS A K 7 4 2

DIAMONDS K Q

CLUBS K Q 5

West East

@handtext:SPADES ? 8 5 SPADES ? 9 4 2

HEARTS 9 3 HEARTS 6

DIAMONDS 10 9 7 4 DIAMONDS 8 6 5 3 2

CLUBS 8 6 4 3 CLUBS 9 7 2

South

@handtext: SPADES 7 6 3

HEARTS Q J 10 8 5

DIAMONDS A J

CLUBS A J 10

@vulnerable:Dealer: South

Vulnerable: East-West