What A Difference A Lead Makes

Pages: Page 4 of 4

Dealer: South
Vuln: E-W
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeA 5 4
  2. heartK Q 4 3
  3. diamondA J
  4. club10 6 5 2
  1. spadeK 8 6 3 2
  2. heartJ 10 7 6
  3. diamondK 10
  4. clubA 8
club diamond heart spade NT
N - 2 - - -
S - 2 - - -
E 1 - 3 4 3
W 1 - 3 4 4
Green square in centre
  1. spadeJ 10 9 7
  2. heartA 8 5 2
  3. diamond8
  4. clubK Q J 3

Contract: 5diamond
Declarer: South
Lead: spade3
  1. spadeQ
  2. heart9
  3. diamondQ 9 7 6 5 4 3 2
  4. club9 7 4
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
4diamond
Pass 5diamond Pass Pass
Pass
Goldman realised that a few miracles would be required to bring this game's chances up to 20%, and he started by playing low at trick one. Winning with spadeQ, Goldman took a winning trump finesse and ditched the heart9 on spadeA. A ruffing finesse against heartA followed, so Goldman ruffed and entered dummy with diamondA to throw a losing club on heartQ. In all he lost just two clubs.

If, instead of leading away from spadeK, West leads heartJ* originally, East wins heartA and switches to clubK. West realises that his partner must have clubQ so he overtakes and returns another. East wins and cashes clubJ before leading club3 to promote West's diamondK. Three off!

*clubA would be just as effective.
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