Friedrich Nietzsche said, "It is my ambition to say in 10 sentences what others say in a whole book." I wonder if he ever succeeded.
South's ambition in today's deal is the same as in yesterday's: to take 10 tricks in four spades. But his winning plan, which I shall explain in 10 sentences, is very different. What should he do after the defenders begin with three rounds of clubs?
North's three-club rebid was fourth-suit game-forcing. This was a slight overbid, but nothing else was better. Then South had an unenviable continuation. Some would have selected three diamonds, but three spades with a powerful five-card suit was sensible. North, with no club stopper, raised.
South has 10 tricks: four spades, one heart and five diamonds. But to cash those diamonds necessitates first drawing trumps.
If declarer ruffs the third club and cashes his top three spades, he cannot recover. If he plays a fourth spade, West cashes two clubs. If declarer shifts to diamonds, West trumps the fourth and leads another club. South ruffs but is forced to lose a heart trick to East.
Instead, declarer must ruff the third club and lead his last low trump at trick four.
In real life, West might play low, but let's assume he takes his jack. Now if he leads a heart or a diamond, South wins in his hand, draws trumps and runs the diamonds. Alternatively, if West leads another club, declarer ruffs in the dummy with his carefully preserved high trump, returns to his hand with a heart or a diamond, draws trumps and cashes the diamonds.
******
COPYRIGHT: 2012, UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE
North05-01-12
SPADES 10 9
HEARTS Q 6 5
DIAMONDS A K Q 10 4
CLUBS J 7 4
WestEast
SPADES J 8 7 5SPADES 4 2
HEARTS J 9HEARTS K 8 4 3
DIAMONDS 7 3DIAMONDS 9 8 6 2
CLUBS A K 9 6 2CLUBS Q 10 3
South
SPADES A K Q 6 3
HEARTS A 10 7 2
DIAMONDS J 5
CLUBS 8 5
Dealer: South
Vulnerable: Neither
SouthWestNorthEast
1 SPADESPass2 DIAMONDSPass
2 HEARTSPass3 CLUBSPass
3 SPADESPass4 SPADESAll pass
Opening lead: CLUBS A
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