Enlist Help From the Defence

Pages: Page 4 of 4

Dealer: South
Vuln: N-S
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spade—
  2. heartK 10 9 4
  3. diamondA 10 9 8 2
  4. clubA 9 6 4
  1. spadeQ 10 9 8
  2. heartA J
  3. diamondK Q J
  4. club7 5 3 2
club diamond heart spade NT
N - 3 5 3 1
S - 3 5 3 1
E 1 - - - -
W 1 - - - -
Green square in centre
  1. spade5 3 2
  2. heart8 6 2
  3. diamond7 6 3
  4. clubK J 10 8

Contract: 4heart
Declarer: South
Lead: diamondK
  1. spadeA K J 7 6 4
  2. heartQ 7 5 3
  3. diamond5 4
  4. clubQ
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
1spade
Pass 2diamond Pass 2heart
Pass 4heart End
You don't want to make an early decision on the this hand as it's not clear what the best line is. Time to enlist help from the defence! The diamonds may need establishing, so for the time being simply exit with diamond10. What does West do now? If he leads a trump it will help to clarify that suit and you will be able to establish the diamonds, whereas if he switches to a club the timing is better for a cross-ruff. At the table declarer fell between two stools - he began a cross-ruff and eventually threw his losing diamond on a fourth round of clubs.

With no suit established the defenders immediately played two rounds of hearts and South made only nine tricks.
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