♣ ....which lost ..... to doubleton Q offside. -200, match lost😡.  Apparently east thought he was squeezed, saving the unnecessary A♣ . Should declarer have worked this out?  With declarer in hand at trick 11, the opponents  are known to hold A9♣ , Qxxx♦ between the two hands. East’s last two discards are diamonds which could suggest he’s not holding the Q♦ , west has yet part with a diamond. But the solution lies with the remaining clubs. If west holds both clubs, thee contract is doomed unless west’s only diamond is the Q♦ . What if East holds both clubs? Then having a complete count of the club suit has chosen to retain 2 clubs for no bridge reason.

what if Clubs are 1-1? (Therefore ♦ are 2-2, and Q♦ is dropping.) East, knowing the A♣ is outstanding, would not retain the 9♣ rather than a third diamond, protecting the Q♦ if he had it. But east might retain the A♣ if he didn’t know where the 9♣ was,(if declarer holds it, it becomes a winner with the discard of the Ace. So this must be the answer. East doesn’t know if he is squeezed, and chooses to protect clubs. Declarer should recognize the “pseudo-squeeze” has worked, clubs are 1-1 and the Q♦ drops.

It’s  not good enough just to create the successful end position, you need to recognize it as well.

To make 6 spades on this hand, win the opening lead with A♦ , cash the K♣, draw two rounds of trump with the KQ (the 10 drops), cash A♣ discarding a diamond, play the top hearts, ruff a heart with dummy’s A♠ , ruff a club back to the north hand to draw the last trump, and lose only a diamond.  Your 12th trick came from ruffing a heart in the hand with short trumps.  The trumps have to break 3-2, the hand with the long trump has to have two clubs,  and if hearts break worse that 4-3 then the hand with the long hearts has to have the long trump. 

This situation comes up more often than you might think. Declarers trump are 5-3 or 4-4. Declarer has a 4-3 side suit and needs 4 tricks. The fourth trick is good if they break 3-3. So declarer draws exactly 2 rounds of trump (breaking 3-2) then three rounds of side suit. If they break 3-3 draw last round of trump; when they break 4-2, declarer can still score the 4th round by ruffing. Of course if the outstanding trump is in the hand with the short side suit, they will ruff 3rd round. Declarer still gets to ruff the 4th round to eliminate a loser.

This is a tough one! At trick 2 you must decide whether to set up the club suit or crossruff the hand without drawing any trump. On a diamond lead you have lost an entry to dummy making setting up clubs difficult when either black suit fails to break.  The crossruff is at risk when west can ruff(overruff) a club and return a trump. Setting up clubs works when both black suits break 3-2, less than 50%. Crossfuff works when west has most of the clubs 50%.  I choose crossruff.

How does your strategy change on a trump lead?

There are two ways this slam comes home, but only 1/3 of declarers found a winning line. Plan number 1 is to play for clubs to be 4-2 (ruff the third club high in your hand) and also ruffing 2 spades in your hand.  This "dummy reversal" generates a 12th trick, 3 trump, 3 ruffs in hand, 4 clubs, 1 diamond, and 1 spade.  It also requires trump to break 3-2 and careful timing.

Plan 2 is to cross ruff the entire hand.  This can be successful if the defense fails to lead a trump after they win the A♦ . Declarer is then able to score 2♣ ,1♦ ,1♠ , and 8♥ .  Always cash your winners before starting the crossruff.

Which line is better... the crossruff if given the opportunity.

This one was particularly annoying personally because I missed it at the table.  There is a safety play sequence that requires declarer to shorten his heart holding to 4 by ruffing diamonds. Then when the hearts don't break, a trump coup against north generates the 12th trick. If you dont plan for it early you will never capture the J♥ .

At the table 7 pairs were in hearts with 3 making 6.  Two of those 3 received a 2♠  lead solving all problems.  The third declarer decided to try for a spade ruff if spades were 3-3(36%), or if the opponent with the long spades also had the last heart(?%). This approach also wins if the Q♠ is doubleton(16%). Win the opening lead;  play AK♣ and a ♦ to Q♦ and east's A♦ . Win the ♦ return discarding a spade.  Now KQ♥ , AK♠ , and Q♣ pitching dummys last spade. When the 9♠ is lead west must follow and dummy ruffs.  A diamond back to declarer allows declarer to draw the last trump.

But nobody found the best line which is to set up the 5th diamond when diamonds break 4-3 (62%).

After a curious 1NT opening, east balanced with a capalletti 2♣ , showing an unspecified one-suited hand.  West alerted, south inquired, and west explained the bid accurately.... and followed with the PASS card! North had no difficulty passing, ending the auction.  There you have it. East was left to play in a 1-1 club fit rather than a 6-5 diamond fit. A true first...hopefully never to be repeated

Drawing trump is out of the question! Declarer may need all three trump in hand to ruff 2♦ and one♠ .  To find out cash three rounds of spades ending in dummy.  When they break life gets easier.  But be careful.  If you play the last spade now, north will discard a diamond and then be able to ruff the second round of diamonds.  So before playing the 13th spade, cash the A then K♦ , then lead the last spade. Now north cannot discard usefully and and declarer easily comes to 13 tricks on a crossruff.

You have 8 tricks. The nineth can come from a successful club finesse.  The tenth?  Maybe the Kx♣ is on your left, but you can do better.  Set up the fifth diamond.  To do so you need three entries. So lead low to the 8♠ .

Say west wins and returns a ♠ .  Win with the 9♠ in dummy, and ruff a diamond.  Now take the club finesse, winnig with the Q♣ , and ruff another ♦ . Now a club to the A♣ , and the 5th diamond is your 10th trick.  Nicely done!

1. Bd 11:  NV vs. NV - you hold:  T52 - Q - Q8 - AQ97542.  RHO deals and passes.  Your call?  3♣ 

                 Not quite a 1 bid, can't pass (too strong, hand could be passed out), forces oppts to make decision at 3 level              

     2.   Bd 22: Vul vs. not - you hold:  82 - KQJT93 - KJT9 - J.  Two passes to you.  Your call? 4♥ 

                 Risky, but unlikely to go down more than one opposite black suit game. (Full disclosure; would result in zero at the table)              

                 Hearts only makes 2 and oppts dont have game

     3.   Bd 7:   Vul vs. Vul - you hold:  9 - K - 97543 - AKQ943.  You dealt.  Your call?  1♣ 

                 This hand screams 3NT with many mediocre holdings by partner,  3♣ doesn't convey the strength.

     4.   Bd 27:  NV vs. NV - you hold:  Q7 - AKT9862 - 74 - Q7.  RHO deals and passes.  Your call? 1♥ 

                 Different from  Bd 11 in two important ways; Major suit makes game more likely, and slightly stronger holding for NT game tries.

Take a breath.... remember the fundamental conditions for a squeeze; rectify count (you have 11 winners and have lost one trick, check!); identify a threat card( J♠ , only the outstanding Q♠ is higher, probably held by south), have a suit of sufficeint length that one opponent must protect their length (in this case Clubs). Time to execute.  Win the A♠ and run all the hearts ending in dummy. After the last heart is played dummy will hold ♠ J7 ♣ 86; declarer will hold ♣ AKQ4.  South unfortunately must keep 5 cards, Q♠ and foyr clubs to the J.  Forced to discard a club, south allows the 4♣ to be declarers 12th trick.

Try the Q♠ .  When that doesn't collect the J♠ , play A♦  capturing south's Q♦ , diamond to the J♦ , running the clubs. Dummy comes down to 2 cards 9♦ 9♠ . On the last club North must pitch from 108♦ ,J♠ , with declarer pitching her last spade the K6♦ are left.  North is squeezed.

It's best for North to duck the Q♠ at trick four.  But that doesn't save him. Declarer now has 10 tricks. If she ends in dummy, the 3 card ending forces North to hold A♠ 108♦ . Declarer discarding behind him holds K10♠ K♦ .  A spade lead from dummy now gives declarer the last two tricks.

You have the rest if clubs break 3-3, but south's play of the J♣ suggests he's out. So north is likely to have 2 clubs remaining.  He also likely has the 10♦ .  If so, his perverbial goose is cooked!  Take your remaining major suit winners, ending in your hand. Your (east) last three cards are A♥ , 7♦ , 8♣ ; dummy 8♦ , Q10♣ ; north 10♦ , K9♣ .  When the A♥ is played, pitch the 8♦ from dummy. North must give up either the 10♦ or a club, allowing you to score that extra trick.

For more on Simple Squeezes see the article in the Library.

There are only three spot cards west cannot see, the 2, 4, and 9. The only one that matters is the 9, and only if declarer has it.  Therefore west should lead the 8♥ , forcing the 9♥ , J♥ , and K♥ . Now west can cover whatever dummy leads keeping declarer from establishing a second heart trick.  This is a type of "surround play" , which doesnt come up often but can be a devistating tool for the defense.  More on the "surround play" here.  http://csbnews.org/the-defensive-surround-play/?lang=en

This article is about mistakes, and declarer made one as well. Did you spot it?

At trick two declarer should duck a trump to the defense, win the diamond return and now take the ♣ A, leaving west with the winning K♣ . Now play proceeds as before, with west this time leading the correct ♥ 8, ♥ 9, ♥ J, ♥ Q.  But declarer now has the answer, throwing East in with the K♣ , forcing a fatal heart lead away from the A♥ or ruff and discard.

Did you learn from these mistakes?

To set up club tricks they need to be split 4-3...and you need 4 entries to dummy to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  But you can't draw a second round of trump, yet.  Start by leading to the  A♦ . Use the entry to play the A♣ and ruff a club before losing a diamond trick.  Ruff the ♥ return in dummy and and ruff a second club. Now you can afford to lead to dummy's K♠ and ruff the third club.  When east follows with the K♣ ruff and carefully lead a your last ♦ for a ruff in dummy, and the cherished entry to your good clubs.  You only need one club to dispatch your last heart, even if east ruffs, making 5♠ , and all the match points

The straight forward line is to draw trump and take the club finesse.  If it wins you have 12 tricks.  But when loses....down 1.  One declarer chose to lead a heart to the 5, Q, K, perhaps thinking of combining chances.  But this proves to be a false hope, as whoever wins can force declarer to win the spade return in dummy, and rely on hearts breaking 3-3, (or 10 9 doubleton).  When West won with the K♥ , she returned a club, forcing declarer to again decide between hearts and clubs.  This declarer relied on hearts and proved to be right...this time.

West could see the hearts were breaking and gave declarer a losing option.

So did declarer choose the best line of play?  Not easy to determine at the table.  The club finesse is 50-50 but when it works you make 6.  Hearts breaking 3-3 about 40%, doubleton 10-9 may or may not help.  And the opportunity to make 6 when all lines of play work favor drawing trump and taking the club finesse.  In this case it would be a loser!  Frustrating game

Since the contract always makes when trump are 2-2 the question is whether the finesse (about 50-50) is more likely to be successful than the sum of the other chances when trump break 3-1. When declarer declines the finesse by taking the A♦ he should first play two rounds of trump. When they don't break there is more work to do, but it would be a mistake to draw the last trump.  

Because East holds the last trump it is best to cross to the AK♥ , ruffing a third ♥ with the 8♠ .  When east cant overruff you are home. your fifth heart will be good, or you can discard it when east trumps a diamond. 

This approach loses only when both hearts and diamonds break 5-2 or worse and the defender with the long trump can overtrump an otherwise winning trick.  The probability of success avoiding the diamond finesse is much higher.

So west is again in the crosshairs of a dilemma.  Would declarer really underlead the A♦ twice?  At the table west thought not, and played low expecting east to have the A♦ .  East did not and declarer was then able to capture west's king with the A♦ .  

There is no reason for declarer to play this way, or is there?  When west rises with the Q♦ on the first trump trick, he is unlikely to hold Qxx or Qxxx. More likely Q Qx KQ or KQx .  Of those declarer wins by cashing the A♦ only when west had KQ, but KQx is twice as likely?

Very, very interesting

After considerable thought north chose to duck, expecting south to hold the then singleton K♥ .  But declarer held it instead!  Why doesn't declarer cash the K♥ ? Because she is also missing the 10♥ , which of course north can't see.

There is a risk to declarer's choice.  Let's say north originally held Qx♥ . Now now would be forced to play the Q♥  and reading souths low club return as suit preference in diamonds, could now lead a diamond away from the A♦ to south's K♦ , win the return and give partner a ruff.

What choice would you make?

When declarer leads small to the J♠ west should believe east has at least one spade honor.  If so, the defense is always winning that trick as well as a ruff.  They can do better if west rises with the Q♠ .  Then when east gets in with the A♠ , can give west a ruff.  But if east held the K♠ east must overtake and give partner the ruff immediately.

When declarer leads the J♠ from dummy, east does best to duck, setting up three tricks if declarer does not go up with the K♠ .  On the auction it is not clear that declarer holds only 5 spades. So west ducking risks losing a second trump trick when declarer is Kxxxxx.

Declarers best play is to win the opening lead in dummy and lead to the K♠(either low or J) . West is almost forced to rise with the A♠ when he has it and give partner a ruff. When west doesn't hold the A♠ declarer can force east to win, minimizing the chance of a ruff. 

The only chance is that west holds exactly two clubs.  Play off dummy's AK♦ , and AK♣ (On the second club west plays the J♣ ). There is hope. Now play the J♠ from dummy.  When west wins, his only safe exit is a diamond; which declarer ruffs in dummy.  Now declarer plays A♥ , and another, and west is forced to lead a diamond again, allowing declarer to pitch his losing club in hand while ruffing in dummy.

West must win the first heart trick, cash the K♠ , before giving up the lead to avoid the endplay.

After winning the Q♣ lead with the A♣ ,  the J♥ was led and allowed to win. With only the 10♥ to worry about declarer set out to make dummy's diamond go away.  K♣ and another club ruffed in dummy.  When clubs broke 3-3 there was no more risk.  A spade to the A♠ , and a fourth club led planning to discard the diamond.  When east ruffed in with the 10♥ dummy overruffed with the K♥ .  Now a spade to the J♠ and the fifth club.  East helplessly played the A♥ and watched as dummy's lone diamond was discarded.  Making six, and all the match points.  This time the risk was worth it

At the table I won the heart return and ruffed a spade, and returned to my hand with dummies last heart. Expecting east to have the last heart, I led a small one, careful to discard a club from dummy.   However, west won, cashed the last spade and led a club. At this point, I was wishing I'd already cashed them A♣ . West would be endplayed.  But there was still hope.  After winning the A♣ the north hand held. 107♥ J98♦ , west K102♦  KJ♣ , and dummy AQ7♦ Q8♣ .  When decarer leads his two remaining trump, discarding the 8♣ first west is squeezed. He must discard J♣ then a diamond.  Now declarer can finesse the K♦ , cash dummy's A♦ , a last diamond to the J♦ , making four.  Very interesting

From the bidding declarer should play west for length in spades, and lead the Q♠ . West covers, dummy  wins and continues trump won by west who returns the last trump.  Declarer should now plan to duck a heart to maintain communication with dummy.  As long as hearts break 3-2, or east hols a stiff honor declarer will be able to discard two clubs on hearts, making 5♠ .

Needing to know where the points were so I could decide whether to finesse or to play West for the singleton trump King, I led Spades from the dummy and put up the Jack. East won, cashed the Ace and returned a Spade to his partner's King. Now I had seen at best 9 points in the black suits from the opener and decided to play him for the stiff trump King. Which worked. Making 4.

The hand is more interesting for West. He can deduce that declarer has three spades from the auction. His partner would have bid Spades freely with five instead of doubling. On the first low Spade from dummy West should rise with the King and return the suit. If his partner has AJxx or AQxx he can score the trump King with an uppercut when the fourth Spade is led. There aren't any Spade holdings by declarer which would cause playing the Spade King to lose a trick. After winning the third Spade, East should figure the situation out. Since declarer didn't play trumps early holding at least ten on them he must have a problem in the suit which he is trying to get more information to help solve.

Declarer is a winner if he/she can figure out where the red kings are.  I put south in with the fourth spade and the 10♦ was returned, winning.  Now presented with a losing option, and not believing the encouraging signal, promptly took the heart finesse.  Down 1!  Had I cashed the A♦ and lead another, south would have been endplayed a second time, making three.

Note also that after cashing the clubs, A and another ♥ also endplays south.

This is how to create your own luck

Either the spades break or they don't.  If they do, three clubs go on spades and the K♣ is ruffed with dummy's last trump.  But wait! what if either defender holds KQx♥ ?  If you can arrange to play four rounds of hearts, the J♥ will be a winner and a fitting place to discard the K♣ .

So, win the opening trump lead in hand, and draw a second round of trump with the A♦.  Now play two rounds of spades (If spades break 5-1 the second spade will be ruffed with opponents last trump and you will still have two trump in dummy to ruff your 4th and 5th spade.).  Now you must play a heart to the A♥ and ruff a heart, dropping the Q♥ , before drawing the last trump.  Otherwise you won't have enough entries to enjoy your heart winner. Now draw the last trump with the K♦ ,  and ruff another heart felling the K♥ .  Play the Q♠ finding the spades don't break and ruff the fouth spade in dummy.  Now the fifth spade will be good, AND you are able to dicard your K♣ on the hard earned J♥ , for all the matchpoints

The club return seems obvious, whether east has the K♣ or not. Faced with the decision early, is there any other choice? Well yes.  Three discards may be available in hearts, with a little good fortune. Hating to go down at trick two; prolong the agony by winning the A♣ .  Now cash the A♥ , play K♠ , spade to the A♠ .  When spades break there is hope.  Now play K♥ pitching a club , and ruff a heart.  When the Q♥ comes down you have two more good hearts, and the trump entry to cash them.

 This is an interesting hand in that the odds favor the club finesse, taken twice over setting up hearts (43 break with Qxx).  Because of the shortage of entries, you can't do both.  With a neutral defense, say a trump lead I would play for the K♣ to be onside.  How about if the defense strats with a low club, passed to your J♣ ?  You get to decide

It might be possible to sneak a ninth trick in spades. You know the hearts are ready to run, but the opponents may not.  West's play at trick one, while often best, makes the heart situation unclear to east.  So run the clubs first.  Its possible east has both long hearts and long diamonds and solves the problem for you. When nothing great happens lead the Q♠ .  If east holds the A♠  and not the J♠ they may sense no urgency to win this trick. West may hay the K♠ and east would rather the next heart be led from West.  When west ducks the Q♠ you have your ninth trick!

Odds favor long spades, and therefore the Q♠, being with west; but if you are wrong you risk a heart ruff as well.  The prudent play is spade to the king and a spade back to the ace.  When the Q♠ unexpectedly falls you have wiped the smug look off that notrump bidders face. Draw the last trump play two rounds of hearts ending in dummy.  Now try the diamond finnesse,losing.  West cashes a second diamond and leads a heart.  A club toward the K♣ generates the 10th trick.  By the way, a crafty west may lead a small club after cashing diamonds.  They are presenting you with a LOSING OPTION. Do not fall for this.  Rise with the K♣ and claim your game.

This is discovery play.  Once the ♥ J appears there is no point in ducking.  It is likey west's last heart.  Win the Ace you want to take the spade finesse before west can set up diamonds. Play K♠ , 4♠ from dummy.  When the J♠ wins west discards a diamond. (West appears to be 1,2 in majors).  Now lead the to the 10♦ setting up your J♦ .  East discards.  You now know that west is 1264, and when west returns a diamond to your J♦ you can confidently finesse west for the J♣ ; making 5NT; 3♠ , 2♥ ,2♦ ,4♣ . And all the matchpoints

South is known to have started with 4 clubs, and three diamonds, at least 2 hearts and at least 3 spades.  If his last card is a spade he started  with ♠ QJxx. and very well might have led a spade through dummy rather than a club.  So it is likely south's last card, in addition to ♣ K9 is a heart. At trick 2 south rose with ♥ K , and later followed small.  This is likely from Kx, less likely from Kxx.  Finally, the ♥ 10 was allowed to win. North was likely to win the trick had they held the A♥ .  

If you are confident South is holding the A♥ , you must lead your J♥ at trick 11.  South will be endplayed, making 5.  If you are wrong north will take the last three tricks, down 1.

Is it worth the risk?  At imps, never!, at matchpoints, you be the judge.

One declarer decided to cash out; took his 4 tricks got out, and hoped for another...nope -1400!  Another (remembering this is imps) was more thoughtful.  He realized that cashing out would make it easier for the defense.  After getting the terrible news he realized if he switch to a heart east might feel squeezed (unable to discard a club).  Sure enough east has trouble discarding and west gets endplayed into giving declarer a spade trick.  Preparing an explanation for his teamates for his -1100 he comes to find out he wo 7 imps.  Never give up.  Every play counts.

Thanks to Rick Roland for this idea.

Win the diamond with the Q♦ and lead a small spade to the Q♠ .  This works when the K♠  is with west, spades are 3-2, and west doesn't hold KJx, K10x.  Note the winning play caters to the actual layout where east can ruff the diamond return high.

Playing Ace and another spade only succeeds when J10 is doubleton. It also works to lead a low spade from dummy, but when east splits honors, declarer must duck creating the same dynamic.

Most declarers would duck the second club, hoping clubs are 6-3 and east can't return a club after winning the ♠ A.  But what if west's ♣ 10 is his lowest?  Now when declarer ducks at trick two and wins at trick three, the defense has a chance.....

When declarer play spades east must hold up until the third round, giving west the chance to discard his fourth club.  Now East can win two clubs and set the contract. 

If declarer wins at trick two, he defeats this defense. West cannot afford to discard two clubs, as it would make declarers 9 a winner.  Should declarer know to win trick two? I'll let you decide.

In practice most wests will part with a spade.  Then comes four rounds of spades. On the fourth round west, who can see the club situation parts with a second diamond.

Declarer now holds ♦ Qxx ♣ Qx opposite ♦ A ♣ AKxx. When declarer leads to the A♦ , west  is done!  The Q♦ becomes the 13th trick.

Lets say a clever west decides to discard two diamonds immediately. Now the six card ending ♠ 7 ♦ Qxx ♣ Qx opposite ♦ A ♣ AKxxx with west ♠ 8 ♦ K ♣ Jxxx. Now declarer should still cash the ♦ A before playing clubs, and again west's goose is cooked. The ♦ K drops, the result of squeeze #1. Declarer comes to his hand with the ♣ Q and plays the ♦ Q. West must give up the last spade, or a club.  Squeeze #2.

There are two choices.  You can play the 10♦ finessing the QJ♦ .  For that to be right south must be underleading both, not likely. The other chance takes a bit more imagination. What if trump break 3-2 and the defender with the long trump can't lead diamonds, or clubs.  Aha! They will be forced to lead a spade allowing a ruff and discard of that meddlesome diamond. So, rise with the A♦ , cash two rounds of trump, Then the K♦ (a doubleton diamond is more likely than singleton) then run the clubs. If a defender ruffs in and is also out of diamonds, they will be forced to lead a spade. If all four clubs win, pitch a diamond on the fourth club and lead a trump. The defender who wins and is out of diamonds will be forced to give you a ruff and discard.

This is a classic position that occurs more often than one might think

If you covered the Q♥ you are in trouble.  If not, play the K♥ now.  West will ruff and lead a trump. East show out, so west holds a winning trump.  Cash the A♦ and put west back in with a trump.  If west has the 10♣ they are endplayed........since you had the forsight to play a high club at trick two.  They must lead a club or a diamond.  If its a diamond, you can discard a heart and a club from your hand on the KJ♦ .  If its a club, play low from your hand winning with the 8♣ , and pitch your losing heart on the K♦ . 

There are two lessons in the play that are useful.  The first is when to play the K♥ . It shouldn't be played at trick one because east surely as the A♥ and might only have one or two hearts and have to play it anyway. When hearts are played the second time covering forces west to ruff with a natural trump winner AND forces the lead into west's hand.

The second involves which club to play at trick two. If you play low , and west has the 10♣  you win 3 clubs but can never get to the K♦ .  If you play high and west has the 10♣ west is likely to be endplayed, either with a winning trump or the 10♣ . If the trump break you can afford the club loser if it forces west to lead diamonds.  

You have a club loser and diamond loser. Nothing can be done about the club loser but the diamond could be discarded on the fourth round of clubs, or a good heart.  An immediate low club to dummy might work, if east has the A♣ and rises.  But if east ducks or west wins and switches to a diamond you may not be able to take advantage of the heart option. 

West likely holds the Q♥ and it can be ruffed out setting up a heart winner.  So draw trump, play a heart to the ace and play the J♥ (or 9), and ruff the Q♥ .  The A♦  provides an entry to the good fourth heart.

After a diamond lead, you can still set up the fourth heart but dont have the diamond entry, so win the K♥ , play to A♥ and another ♥ , ruffing.  Now draw two rounds of trump ending in dummy, play the J♥ pitching a diamond.   East with the last spade  must follow suit.  Now ruff a diamond and claim.

Bridge is a fascinating game; and part of the fascination is there is no end to the challenges confronting even the best players. Consider East’s dilemma. On the bidding declarer holds at a minimum six very good spades, more likely seven, and possibly eight.  Partner therefore can hold at most three, and maybe only one. Declarer may have no trump losers, but then again what if he is missing the K, or Q?

Then west might hold Qx or K.  You wouldn’t want to force declarer to lead high trumps from his hand because that could be the only winning choice.  So east craftily leads a red card to dummy’s K, hoping declarer will finesse.

But….declarer knows east to be an excellent player, who holding the Qxx would surely have led a club forcing the ruff in dummy, thereby eliminating the finesse.  Therefore, declarer leads the 8 of spades and confidently plays the AK of spades capturing the Queen offside.  It’s quite a game!

If you lose a spade finesse you lose a spade 2 clubs and a heart before you regain the lead.  I don't like those odds.  Other choices are leading a second club planning a ruff in dummy, and playing KA♠ and running diamonds pictching a club first. I like the last line.  Its best when spades are 3-2 and diamonds no worse than 4-2.  It has added benefit of scoring large when...the Q♠  is doubleton and diamonds are 3-3...scoring six!

An added benefit of playing KA♠ is if West holds Qxx they may be endplayed in hearts. 

Declarer's understanding of this hand begins with the bidding. North/south hold 23 HCP, East has advertised 15, therefore west can hold at most 2.  Declarer should expect west to hold K♠ ,AK♥ ,A♦ at a minimum.  So rise with the A♠ and lead a diamond to the 10♦ .  East will play the A♦ but then what? East returns a club to dummy's K♣ .  Now lead a small trump planning to play the Q♥ if east plays low. Ruff a club, capturing the Q♣ . Now play a winning ♦ pitching either ♠ or ♣ . Finally lead a trump insuring west does not get a diamond ruff. 

If East rises with A♥ at trick four hoping to give west a diamond ruff, pitch a spade and lead another trump. You may end up with ten tricks

The eleventh trick will likely come from either the thirteeth heart or a successful spade finesse.  By carefully taking your tricks in the right order you keep all options open. Draw four rounds of trump and cash the A♠ .(The Q♠ might be singleton.) Now play three rounds of hearts ending with the K♥ . When hearts break 3-3 the eleventh trick is yours. If the 10♥ was not good at this point, you are in position to take the spade finesse.

The odds favor the finesse. There are eight possible arrangements of the outstanding clubs; Kxx, Kx(2), K  in east, or in west.  In four cases the finesse works, and in only 2 cases does the K♣ fall singleton. But listening to the bidding mamay provide an extra chance.  You know from the bidding and play so far, that east held five diamonds to the KQ, and west is now out. You also know that west is likely to hold A♥ , from the bidding.  If true then west cannot defeat the contract by winning the K♣ (2♦ ,1♥ ,1♣ ). So give yourself an extra chance and play for the drop.  When the single K♣ falls offside, you are rewarded.

But, you say this is matchpoints! wont I lose when Kx or Kxx is onside to those taking finesse.  You will but in this case it looks like the better, and safer game is 5♣, and some wont find game. Taking every chance to go plus is a winner

Every declarer started with Q or 10♠ from dummy.  They eventually had to lose the 4th round of spades to north.  To lose no spades declarer must lead the 5♠ toward the J♠ .  When the K♠ pops declarer has no spade losers.  Should declarer make this play?  The surprising answer is no!

It is literally more trouble than its worth.  The probability of a singleton K♠ in south's hand is 2.8%.  But when the 5♠ is not covered declarer bust return to dummy to repeat the finesse.  The probability of one defender being void in diamonds or hearts, and therefore able to ruff,  is 3.9%. 

So technically that risk is greater. Had declarer been able to return to dummy in a suit in which they had less than 8 cards, the probabilty of a defender being void would be 1.5% or less, therefore justifying the play of the 5♠ .

Count your tricks! If the clubs come home and hearts break no worse than 4-2, you have 13 tricks. Therefore no reason to duck a spade. The play on clubs is determined by the position of the K♦ . If you have to lose a club, you want west to win so the K♦ is protected. So, play the K♣ next, 6, 2, Q.  When the Q♣  falls you now have two reasons to finnesse the J♣ . Primarily you dont want west on lead.  Second this is a restricted choice decision.  It is twice as likely East holds the remaining two clubs than West holds the J♣ .  When the finnesse works test the hearts.  When they break claim 13 tricks.

So how do you play when a diamond is led and you are allowed to win the K♦ .  The bidding suggests that West is more likely to have 3 clubs (East opened 2♦ ,guess who? ).  And since there is no longer the K♦  to protect it makes sense to to play the A♣ first and another club. Unfortunately this results in a third round club loser that declarer cannot afford.  So the best declarer can do is claim 10 tricks.

Play the 8♠ .  If you reflexively rise with the J♠ , you miss an opportunity.  Declarer is known to have two spades, at least one of which is the 10, Q, or K.  If declarer holds two of the three, your play makes no difference.  When declarer holds one of the three, playing the 8 prevents dummy's 9♠ from becoming a fourth round threat. It is true that when declarer holds the 10x of spades, playing the 8 permits declarer an immediate spade winner, that the J would prevent.

The odds favor playing the 8, making declarer's path to nine tricks more difficult

The astute west should not cover the Q♠ as he has time to see partners' card(s) before deciding whether it's necessary to cover the honor. Therefore, declarer should allow the finesse to play out. But there are many west's who , especially when the J♠ is not visible, would cover the Q♠ . If you are one of those defenders, and declarer knows it, you will be amazed when declarer covers his own Q♠ with the A♠ and watches the singleton K♠ fall.

It is often right to "cover an honor with an honor", but that is only the beginning of the conversation. Opponents love it when you are predictable and "follow the rules".  They may benefit far more than your partner.

Lead a third heart, giving declarer a ruff and discard.  Declarer is known to have only 4 spades. He cannot draw trump without you winning the second or third round of trump, and forcing declarer to ruff another heart in hand. Now your fourth spade is good.

Sometimes a ruff-sluff can be winning defense

First, did you play a low spade to the J♠ and return with a club to the A♣ ? It's 4 times more likely spades are 4-1 than clubs 5-0.  After drawing trump 12 tricks are yours if either minor suit Q is doubleton or the Q♦ is onside and you finesse.  But there is another solution that combines these chances, takes advantage of the bidding, and eliminates any possibility of a third loser.  Declarer has 11 tricks in top cards. The 12th trick will come in either clubs or diamonds, as long as east hold the Q♦ and three clubs. How likely is this?  From the bidding east is expected to hold 7 hearts and has followed to two trump.  Therefore east has only 4 minor suit cards.  Once the spades and AK♣ are played, you find out diamonds were originally 3-3, and west having pitched one diamond holds a winning club. If you finnesse and it loses you take only 10 tricks; so play west for the Q♦ by taking the AK♦ .  When the Q♦ drops 12 tricks are won.

Too often declarers fail to see the squeeze potential of a long trump suit 

North has alerted declarer that spades are not going to be an easy source of tricks. Declarer would like to insure an entry to dummy by ducking a heart.  But five heart tricks are likely needed to make the contract. Which means the diamond king must be an entry and a trick for this contract to succeed.  So, win the A♠ , play a heart to the K♥ and finesse the Q♥ . Cash the A♥ and lead a diamond toward the K♦ .

Apparently east has 8 hearts AJ....  That might be all thats necessary for the 4♥ bid.  But with west being a passed hand, east could hold one or both spade honors. One spade goes on the Q♥ .  Draw trump and play three rounds of clubs.  Now a trump to dummy and a fourth club, ruffed in hand. The last club is good and declarer has an exact count on East's hand 1813.  Remembering that East returned J♥ declarer plays east for the A♠ , finessing the 10♠ .

When a defender anticipates a possible ruff by partner, their lead is often suit preference.  Declarer can take advantage of this information as well

Declarer created his own demise by discarding a diamond rather than a club on the J♠ .  This lead to the K♦ unblock, and the regrettable 10♦ choice.  Had declarer discarded a club, the best east can do is lead A♣ and another.  Declarer wins, draws trump and plays diamonds, playing east for the A♦ . Declarer always comes to 10 tricks avoiding a second diamond loser. 

Leaving the 10♥ in dummy, makes it likely declarers third heart can be discarded on a long club. Leading up to QJ♠  improves the chances of losing only two trump tricks, but almost assures a heart loser when opponents win the trump lead and return a heart.

So, I lead the J♠ at trick three, making it difficult for EW to read the trump position. Maybe left hand opponent will choose to duck with Ax or Kx, and leading low the next time will hold trum losses to two tricks.  More importantly,  I'm willing to lose three trump tricks if I get my heart discard.

Getting to slam on this hand is the easy part.  Making it...not so much.  Eleven tricks are guaranteed if declarer starts with clubs or hearts,..... maybe. With luck the same suit will produce the 12th trick.  Deciding which is a bit tricky. They way to twelve tricks through clubs is either to play AK♣ hoping to drop the Q♣ or finesse twice through south (which works), a less likely to succeed option.  The reason not to attack clubs first is that neither path to four tricks in clubs assures three club tricks. (To assure 3 tricks in clubs play to the A♣ then lead small to J9♣ , covering unless Q♣ is played from north). In hearts, a winning finesse assures 12 tricks , a losing finesse guarantees 11 tricks and preserves chances for a 12th Trick squeeze.....if only the fourth heart were in dummy.  Umm?

At the table I would start Clubs, playing AK♣ , which in this case fails, then rely on the heart finesse, which loses...down two!  So maybe A♣ and when neither Q or 10 appear play small to the J9♣ assuring 3 tricks?  Then the spade diamond squeeze executes.  Your thoughts?

C. is the winner.  The only risk is a defender has 3 spades, and less than two hearts, or west started with 8 clubs.

I must confess A was my first choice.  Im a sucker for setting up long side suits.  But diamonds could be 5-1. And if the spades are different you may have to ruff two diamonds high to avoid an over-ruff.

Once the spade split is exposed, this line cant miss.

B also works, as long as you clear the hearts before the cross-ruff, but needing hearts 4-3 is riskiest of all.

If you played the K♣ at trick 1, south will win the A♣ and return a club.  When north leads a third club, south pitches a heart, and the defense will get four tricks. Declarer will ruff, draw two rounds of trump and play hearts.  Because of the discard, south can ruff the third heart.  Even if declarer discards a second diamond, best, he still loses two clubs and two diamonds.

A better play is to duck the club lead at trick one.  When north continues clubs, duck again.  This way west never has an opportunity to discard a heart.  Win the diamond return from south with the A♦ , play the AK♠ , and lead hearts, discarding diamonds.  When south ruffs the fourth heart, declarer discards the last diamond (loser on loser), to hold losses to three tricks.

Note that the K♣ could have been used for a heart discard had south been the one to show out of trump.

This hand is about TEMPO, or the order in which the cards are played.  There are two obvious losers, with a third coming by way of a diamond, diamond ruff, or the Q♣ .  What could go wrong?  The biggest risk is drawing too many trump before setting up the diamonds. One strategy is to play on diamonds immediately!  Say, ruff a ♥ , lead a ♦ .  When the 10♦ appears, cover and you are likely to lose only two tricks, making 5.  Sure North can rise A♦ , 10♦ to K♦  and get a ruff, but that is it.

Alternately, ruff a ♥ , play two rounds of trump ending in your hand, and ruff the last heart.  Now lead a diamond toward the QJ♦ .  Assuming, south wins, win the heart return, play spade to A♠ , and another ♦ , planning to play for split honors.

Declarers who wait until trump are drawn to start diamonds, or start ruffing spades too early will find that they run out of trump before there last diamond(s) are good.  Timing is everything

The A♣!.  The route to extra tricks in this hand is either the club finesse or the fourth ♠ , or ♦ .  The club finesse, even if taken once can destroy the diamond position. If a diamond is played to the Ace, and the club finesse loses, a diamond is likely to come back, disrupting transportation, exposing the diamond suit, and restricting options later in the play.  So my plan is A and another ♣ . This guarantees 9 tricks and keeps options open.

And, I get lucky.  The J♣ falls under the A♣ , and another club drives out the K♣ .  Now win the diamond return in dummy with the A♦ .  At this point I can count 10 tricks,3♣ ,2♦ ,3♥ ,2♠ , and have lost one trick. I want to try to "squeeze" out one more trick, and to do that I plan to "rectify the count".  For most squeezes to work declarer must have only one potentential loser at the end of a hand.  At this point I have 2.  So, after winning the A♦ , I'm going to lose a spade, playing low from both hands.

Assume west wins and returns a ♦ ; win the K♦ an play heart and club winners, ending in dummy.  Dummy now holds 9♠ , 105♦ ; Declarer has AK8♠ ; and poor west has Q76♠ ,Q♦ before discarding to the last club. West is truly "squeezed" , and has to concede the 11th trick.

Guarantee the contract and keep overtrick options open...a winning combination!

Declarer is always losing 2 spades and a club on this hand. The key is not to lose the fourth diamond.  So carefully win the opening lead in hand to preserve entries to dummy.  Play A♣ and low club. When clubs break no worse than 4-2 declarer is home.  The defense takes 2 spades and continues trump; won in dummy. Ruff a club high, draw the last trump, ending in dummy, and ruff the fourth club. Declarer is out of trump but has the last 4 tricks with 3 diamons and 1 club.

Lets say clubs break 5-1 (its why declarer wins the A♣ first). Now the 10th trick must come from diamonds. But you can do better than relying on 3-3 break.  Draw exactly two rounds of trump; then play 3 rounds of diamonds. If they break 3-3 draw the last trump and you are home. If the defender with the last trump also has a fourth diamond, you will be able to ruff your 4th diamond in dummy.

Declarer can count 12 tricks, a thirteenth can com from a diamond finesse, club finesse, possible squeeze......or set up a club trick by ruffing!

Win the spade lead discarding a diamond. Play A♣ , 6♣ , ruffing high.  Now 2♥ to the 8♥ ; 8♣ , ruffing with the J♥ . When both defenders follow clubs break 4-3 and the 5th club will be good.  Return to the Q♥ and play the 10♣ , ruffing with the 10♥ . Now a ♥ back to the A♥ , and play the Q♣ discarding the second diamond.  No guesswork needed

If the clubs dont break, some guesswork may be needed. Run the rest of the hearts, saving Ax♦ AQ♣ , opposite KJx♦ 9♣ .  A defender with K♣ Q♦ cannot protect them both. If neither opponent struggles with discards, play AK♦ , planning to finesse K♣ if the J♦ is not good.

Would your partnership be able to bid to a confident 7♥ ?

DOUBLE!  Everything is in your favor.  You are sitting behind the ♥ ♠ bidder.  Partners points are sitting behind east minor cards.  The game is close based on the bidding.  Finally, a double in this position usually calls for a lead of dummy,s first bid suit.  You can stand that.  As you can see, declarer is lucky to go down one.

By the way, when partner dutifully leads the 4♠ , declarer playing low, what do you play?.....

Ye olde rule of eleven 11-4=7  you see seven cards above the 4♠ , so declarer cant have one.  Play the 6♠ .

If North redoubles, South should probably pass.  South makes 5 for +920.

If North believes clubs are not breaking because of the double, he/she should win the first trick and focus on a third spade trick. Win the opening lead with the K♣ and play three rounds of diamonds ending in dummy.  East shows out pitching a heart. If spade honors are split a finesse through west will result in a third spade trick.  If both honors are with east coming to the ♠ K and leading up to the ♠ A is a winner. Should you "always play for split honors", or be influenced knowing east is likely to have 5+ spades. A toss up?

After all this I like ducking the first club.  It works when east continues a club; switches to a spade; or west holds both spade honors.  Without the double declarer must choose between clubs breaking 3-2 and working out the spades.  The clear choice is clubs, which is why few declarers mak 6.

A nice contract but, didnt find the right path. I lead a trump, won by west, won the diamond return, but decided to ruff a diamond at that point.  I should have realized that could never work as I have remove my only entry to the clubs.

The winning play is, after winning the Q♦ play a second trump, west winning. west, out of diamonds is forced to cash his A♠ before exiting. You lose two trump, A♠ , and A♣ .

The moral....be patient and dont let immediate concerns cause you to lose sight of the overall plan, which was to set up and enjoy dummy's clubs.

I believe declarer should always try to make the contract rather than settle for down one, as long the chance of success is reasonable. So I rise wth A♣ , and thake the heart finesse, which loses....down two, -200, and a zero.

The decision was influenced by a number of events that occured at the table.  First, the opponents were silent through the auction.  Had north overcalled hearts, the likelyhood of the heart finesse working would be small.  Secondly, north seemed to have no difficulty leading the J♣ .  If north held the K♣ there might be more reluctance.  On the other hand north is basically endplayed, out of spades, out of diamonds, and peering at the AKJ♥ in dummy, so a club has to be led.

What would you do?

Most declarers received the A♠ lead, but only two of eight found the right path to 11 tricks.  After winning the A♦ , cross to dummy with a trump.  Ruff a low spade, and return to dummy with a second trump.  Ruff a second spade dropping the K♠ . Now a trid trump to dummy, discarding two diamonds on good spades.  With the A♣ onside, declarer comes to 11 tricks, or +570, instead of -100. 

The chances of ruffing out the A♠ are less than 50%, but represent the only path to success.

Note that only a diamond lead at trick one holds this contract to nine tricks.

If partner is doubling he must have Something more than just shape. If I pass I expect a plus score, so if I bid I'll bid a game, and I'd better make it!.  Partner is not expecting pass...but he's also not expecting 3NT!  Thats my call. South is likely to have the missing spade honors, and little else.  If holds an outside King I may have two spade stoppers.  Four hearts is a gamble as partner is unlikely to have five hearts, and they may break poorly.

The results at the table amplify the challenges in the bidding . 3♠ down 1 or 2 is a good score for NS, while EW needs to both bid and make their vulnerable game to get a top.  Often they did not succeed.

Not much in high cards to force to the 4 level vulnerable.  But I believe in bidding shape, and do you ever have shape for a double here.  So I double...for takeout, hopefully😀

So 15 points 4333 , double, or 2NT, or pass?  If I bid 2nt, its dangerously on the low edge pointwise, but otherwise descriptive.  Double is more forgiving but I am unlikey to find 3NT when its right, and how do i evaluate partners expected 3 level suit bid.

Pass is a gamble as well. Game could easily be missed.  Im in the 2nt camp here.

If south opens 3♠ , i'm passing hoping to go plus...maybe.  Anything else carries too much risk.

Over 4♠ i will double for penalty, not needing much from partner for a set.

lThis appears to be a classic 3♠ bid. At this vulnerability, some may opt for 4♠ intending to shut the opponents, as well as partner out of the auction. My choice, however is 2♠. for the following reasons. The main purpose of a preemt is to make it more difficult for the opponents to find both the correct strain and level. Their goal is to find a biddable game if available or to end up with a plus score in the part score wars.

Your bid is comparatively safe as it likely to make in cases where opponents cannot make game.  However the opponents choices often include substantial risk.  For instance. left hand opponent doubles, partner passes, right hand opponent bids 3♥ with 4♥ and 0? 6? 10? points. Now what?  Or right hand opponent with 4♥  and 10 points decides to respond 4♥ to the double, only to find partner with xx, AJx KQxx, Qxxx.

The 2♠ opener also provides partner with more flexibilty in finding the right spot when your side holds the cards.

A 3♠ opening bid exposes opener to more risk, while eliminating some of the risky choices from the opponents toolkit.

What's your view?

After a club lead, it makes sense to win the A♣ and play the A♦ discarding the other club. Declarer is likely to lose one spade, and one heart if he plays on trump. However, declarer can choose to ruff a low heart with the J♠ . Now ruff a diamond and lead the K ♠.  South wins. Declarer ruffs the minor suit return and is fortunate when the 10♠ drops under the Q♠ . The chances of this line working is less than 50%, but an extra chance nonetheless.

Its interesting to note that the declarers who received a heart lead found the winning line, while those receiving a club lead did not.  A trump lead will foil the plan but never happened.

Finally note what happens if south ducks the K♠ . Declarer is now presented with a losing option, something that didn't exist after covering the K♠ . Something to think about next time.

Because of the abundance of trump, ten tricks are easy. The eleventh trick, as demonstrated by the results at the table is not as obvious.  Whenever you see excess trump in both hands,  you want to consider ENDPLAY possibilities.  Specifically, how can declarer put North on lead at a point where north is forced to lead a heart, create a second club winner, or give up a ruff and discard.

Win the diamond in hand, play A♣ , and two rounds of trump ending in dummy. Now lead a small club.  Assuming south ducks, declarer ruffs, and north plays the J♣ . The plan now shifts from endplay to discarding a diamond loser on a club.  Cross to the K♦  and lead the Q♣ . If south covers ruff, lead small to the 7♠ , pitch a diamond  on the 10♣ and take the losing heart finesse.

If south duck the third club, pitch a diamond.  When this wins you have eleven tricks.

Its always a good idea to create extra chances, if it can be done safely.  You might just make some of your own luck

Could be from length, but suit was unbid.  More likely was lead choices were all quite unattractive. Specifically, no spade lead because declarers first bid suit; no trump lead because of holding likely to give up a trick (Q♥ ); no diamond because likely to hold the K♦ ; and no low club because he's not underleading Ace against a suit contract.  Sure enough, thats the problem.  Great insight into how the best players think about opening leads.

This revelation doesn't help declarer much as far as choices. Both the diamond and heart finesses are one way, and the spade finesse is unlikely to be taken anyway.  The winning line is to take the trump finesse, draw trump and play on spades hoping they set up by breaking 3-3 or the queen dropping doubleton. Save the expected winning diamond finesse as a last resort.  It has some risk and is less likely to set up; although in this case taking a winning diamond finesse and ruffing a small diamond does work..

Declarer has 7 top tricks.  Two more can come from diamonds if they split.  Alas.....and both the heart and spade finesse's are off.  SO....

Win the club and lead a low spade.  A crafty west will switch to a diamond, which you must duck, east winning.  A diamond continuation will generate 3 diamond tricks for declarer, so east switches back to a club, won in hand.  Now a second low spade, won by west, who leads a second diamond. Win the A♦  in dummy. Now a spade to the A♠ , take the fourth spade, and the third club.  At this point the four card ending looks like this:

                       N    ♥ KJ9; ♦ 7

E:  ♥ 1073  ♣ 8                  W:  ♥ Q6  ♦ KQ;  or ♥ Q65 ♦ K

                     S    ♥ A82 ♣ 5

At this point declarer has won 6 tricks.  She leads a heart to the K♥ . If west has pitched to two hearts the heart A and J are the eighth and ninth tricks. If east retained three hearts, lead the last diamond.  East is forced to lead hearts giving up the ninth trick.

A great example of the impact of a squeeze combined with an endplay!  Does help when you see all 52 cards

Pleas comment below

You'd like to dray trump, hopefully losing two, and run diamonds.  But if you play on trump at trick two leads to two trump losers and two heart losers before you get started.  A better plan is to play diamonds immediately. Hopefully diamonds break 3-3 you can discard two hearts, ruff a heart and lead a trump.

Alas diamonds don't break and north ruffs with the 10♠ ; you discard your second heart. The heart return is ruffed in hand. I trouble now you must hold trump losses to one mor trick.  You lead small to KJ and.......seeing the 10♠  played suggests north has one left. Is it the Q or A? If you rise K♠  you win. It crashes the Q♠  and you will lose only two spades and a club. 

My plan was to run diamonds, gathering more info. West discards  three clubs and a spade.  East a club and a spade. Dummy... encouraged by the club discards decides hold 4 clubs and discards a heart.  Now the successful club finesse, covered and won in dummy, with west discarding another spade. The fourth club is good but I cant get to it!(Solution #1: duck the club letting the king win!). Now I have to lose a heart and either club or spade. I essence I squeezed myself by running the diamonds.

A simpler, perhaps better line is to win the spade and play on hearts. Cross to A♦ , finesse Q♥ , losing.  Now win the spade return. Now play hearts before cashing diamonds.  When they break, discard your last spade, run diamonds and take the club finesse. Twelve tricks with a lot of good fortune.

A third interesting option is to play a club at trick two, planning to lose a club while retaining the A♣  in dummy. Creating this loser assures 2 club tricks while rectifying the count.  Now win the spade return, discard a heart , play your winning J♣ ,and run diamonds. On the 5th diamond pitch a second heart. In the four card ending declarer has KJ3♥ 6♠ ; dummy A9♥ A8♣ , east 109♣  Q10♥ .  Cross to the A♥ and play the A♣ . Either the 8♣ or take the heart finesse, or if east is known to hold the last club, you may have squeezed east out of protection for the Q♥ . Your choice at trick 11.

Which line is better?  The first wins with a bit of defensive help(Easts club discard) or the heart finesse.  The second requires the club finesse and hearts breaking 3-3, or the heart finesse. The wins if the 8♣ is a winner or you can devine the heart position.  Which line did you choose?

You've lost two diamonds and are likely to lose a third.  Count your winners, there are eight 2♠ ,2♥ ,1♦ ,3♣ . No obvious play for a ninth trick. If you play off winners the opponents will surely get the last three tricks.

The ninth trick is there if either hearts or spades break 3-3, but you cant find out by play A,K and another. The right play is to duck either a heart or a spade to the defense. But which one? You would like to do both to  maximize your chances. But that creates too many losers. So flip a mental coin and duck a major suit in both hands. You have two chances to be right, first if the suit you picked breaks 3-3 (hearts does, spades doesnt); the second chance is that one defender has four or more cards in both majors. In this case that defender will be squeezed in the majors, unable to protect the third round of both suits. So imagine ducking a major suit to south, who cashes the fourth diamond. Declarer discards a card in the other major from both hands, as north discards a club. This effectively "rectifies the count". Now say south leads a club, declarer is ready take advantage of all his chances. After playing two more rounds of clubs dummy holds K65♠ K8♥ , declarer holds A7♠ A53

Make sure you pay attention to the major suit discards. An opponent with 4 cards in eack major will have been forced to discard at least two major suit cards.  And they will find it impossible to hold three cards in each major in the five card ending.  They have been "squeezed".  Unfortunately in this hand the squeeze does not work, neither defender has four cards in both majors.

What does work is leading a heart, and not a spade at trick four. Because hearts break 3-3 the thirteenth heart is your ninth trick.

It would be great if declarer could ruff the third heart in dummy; but given the bidding, west is likey to only have two hearts, and better spade spots. Recognizing that, its time to attack trump.  It would be nice to lead up to the KQ♠ , but for that to be effective  may require two enties to dummy; entries which may be needed later to get to the diamonds should they set up. It is better to attack trump by leading the Q♠ . (Who knows, west might duck wth doubleton A♠ ). The plan is to lose two spades and one club, spades breaking 3-2, and either A♣ onside, or the club loser discarded on a long diamond.  East wins and returns a heart to declarers A♥ . Now cash the K♠ and lead the third heart. You still get your heart ruff! Even if west held the third heart, he would be ruffing with a winner, while delarer discards a club ensuring only one club loser.

After the succesful ruff in dummy, play to the K♦ , back to the A♦ , followed by a ruff.  When diamonds break 3-3 declarer is home. Leading a club establishes an entry to dummy regardless of who hold the A♣ .  The opponents get A♠ , A♣ , and a second spade.  The plan worked.

What about setting up dummy's long suit first, a strategy that has been advocated here, and is often overlooked.  In this case it works fine, because diamonds are 3-3. But what if they aren't. Entries to setup and enjoy diamonds are not a problem if diamonds break 3-3. If they don't, declarer is exposed to an extra ruff, or trump promotion before finding out wheter the A♣ is onside. Even if declarer can manage not to lose a third trump, he may not have enough entries to enjoy the fifth diamond.  What ever small chance there is of setting up and using the fifth diamond when diamonds are 4-2 are offset by the exposure to an additional trump loser and the 50-50 chance a discard on diamonds may net be necessary regardless.

So "combining chances" trumps "setting up side suit early" in this case.

whOn this hand you only get one chance!  If you didnt play the J♥ , you are toast.  Often when faced with similar situations I reason to insert the 9♥ , because you are twice as likely to successfully finesse against the 10♥ as you are the K and Q. This isn't a similar situation! Playing the 9 or the J makes no difference in the play.  Either way the 8♥ offers protection when east is on lead, or when west only holds 2 hearts.

But it makes a huge difference in the outcome. When the J♥ wins you easily come to eight tricks. When the 9♥ is played you are are lucky to come to 5 tricks 

If declarer chooses to believe defenders he/she may be putting the contract at risk. To retake the heart finesse delarer must lead a club to the K♣ .  Lets say that wins and a second heart is lead from dummy.  South, lying in wait, wins the heart and leads a diamond.  Now declarer is forced to win in hand and is exposed to two club losers. 

The nightmare scenario is north covers the K♣ and returns a club, forcing declarer to decide whether to finesse the J♣ long before he/she is ready

A better strategy is to give up on getting lucky in hearts, and play A♥  and another heart. South wins and puts declarer back in hand, probably with a diamond. Now declarer plays winners, coming to a three card ending.  Declarer has Q73♣ ,

south 10♦ A4♣ , dummy K10♣ A♦ , and north J6♣ Q♦ .  When declarer leads the 3♣ south has no answer.  Declarer will collect ten tricksWinning concedes the last two tricks, ducking allows dummy to collect the A♦ .  If North, holds the A♣  and a club is returned, declarer will be forced to make a decision regarding the J♣ , but will have much more information, if they have been paying attention to opponents discards.

To figure this out you must count your tricks; 4 spades, 3 hearts, 1 diamond, 2 clubs; 10 tricks.  The easiest path to twelve is to ruff two diamonds in your hand.  The play proceeds A♦ , diamond ruff, club to the K♣ , a second diamond ruff.  Now draw two rounds of trump with the AJ♠ .  Lead to a high heart to  draw the last trump. Now play the A♣ . the last trump, and return to the Q♥ . At this point declarer is on lead with 5♥ and J♣. Dummy holds A9♥ .  If the Q♣  has not appeared, lead the heart. If hearts are 3-3 or the opponent with the long hearts held the Q♣  you make 7♠ .  Unfortunately only 6♠ comes home. 

An alternative line is to win the A♦ , play two rounds of clubs, cross to the Q♥ and ruff a club.  The plan is to set up clubs for the 13th trick. When west shows out you are in luck. Ruff the club low, ruff a diamond and ruff the 4th club.  Now play a trump honor, and overtake the second trump honor with the A♠ . The J♠ draws the last trump and you can claim seven.  You are in trouble if spades dont break, and wont make 7 when east has 2 or fewer clubs.

Which line did you choose?

Fortunate not to get an uncomfortable diamond lead, how does declarer still avoid the loss of two diamonds, a heart and a club? With singletons in both hands a cross ruff might work but east is likely to overruff the third or fourth round.  A better option is to set up dummy's long suit.  To do that start with the K♣ .  When west wins with the A♣ he cant effectively attack diamonds, and returns a spade, which is ruffed in dummy. Now cash the Q♣ and ruff a club in hand.  When the clubs break, thing are looking up. Now lead the Q♥ . If east covers, win the A♥ . Now forced to lead a heart to the J♥ , you are fortunate west must play the 10♥ .  A heart to the nine draws the last trump and the clubs are good for 10 tricks...

But east, seeing his losing position shouldn't cover, giving declarer a choice, and a losing option.  But declarer should realize that east would have covered had he held the K10x. So he should next lead the J♥ , hoping west holds 10x.  Right again.   A job well done.

Declarer has many options, all with plusses and minusses.  An agressive approach is to win the opening lead in dummy and take a spade finesse.  Declarer hopes to create another entry to dummy via a spade ruff to take the heart finesse. The problem with this line is that even if both finesses work it may still not be enough. The diamond ruff potential has not been averted; their may be a fourth round spade overruff; and their may be a fourth round diamond loser.

It is better to maintain flexibility on this hand. The plan is to hold the losses to two hearts and a spade;  Win the opening lead in your hand with 10♦ . Lead the J♥ . North will most likely duck, with south winning A♥ . South most likely return is a diamond for a ruff.  In that case north does best to kill and entry with a club lead.  But declarer can now draw trump with the K♥ ; play A♦ , J♦ to the K♦ ,ruff a diamond high and lead a low heart to dummy. Now pitch two spades on a diamond and a club and take the spade finesse 11 tricks.

If south chooses to return a spade, take the finesse. When it win you are home.  Should it lose north can't ever get a diamond ruff and declarer comes to 10 tricks.

One defense is for north to win the Q♥  at trick two, and return a club. Declarer wins and play a second heart. South wins A♥ and plays a spade. Now declarer should rise with A♠ , insuring no diamond ruff,  draw the last trump and play the Q♠ .  The diamond ruff is avoided and declarer can pitch the fourth spade on the A♣. 

Another option, although unlikey is for north to win the Q♥ and return a heart.  North wins A♥ and gives south a diamond ruff. South now play a club to declarers K♣ . The defense now has three tricks.  But declarer can now cash the A♦ , play a small heart to dummy and throw three spades on two diamonds and the A♣ .

A very interesting hand!

If south holds the K♦ you can probably navigate to  nine tricks 1♥ ,2♦ ,2♣ 3♠ , with a ninth trick coming from the 13th diamond, 13th spade, or even a club via a squeeze. 

It is better however to lead the Q♦ thru north.  This wins as long as north doesn't hold both king and jack of diamonds. When north covers win and concede a diamond to south. You now come to 10 tricks.

It is worth noting that with Q10xx opposite A98 leading the Q first, and leading the A first have essentially the same chance of success. The choice you make should be decided by other play considerations.

You duck, hoping the K♦ pops, it doesn't.  South wins and plays the ♦ K .  But that is all the defense gets. You can finesse the J♥  and still have the A♠  entry to discard spades on the K♣ and thirteenth ♦ .

For most declarers , running twelve tricks, and hoping diamonds broke 3-3, or a careless diamond discard would beget the thirteenth was the strategy of choice. Perhaps they were still regretting not bidding six and didn't give the play much thought.

Win the opening lead in hand and play A♠ . When both defenders follow declarer is able to draw the last trump with the10♠ spades in dummy.  But first play K♦ , diamond to the A♦ , and ruff a diamond high. Now as long diamonds were no worse than 4-2, cross to the 10♠ . And the diamonds will provide the 13th trick.

Should you carelessly draw Two rounds of trump before this line occurs to you don't give up. Any time you have all but one trick in winners there are often squeeze possibilities.  This is one that occurs naturally but is difficult to recognize. Once you have run all the spades declarer holds ♥ A76   ♦ K10 ; dummy ♥ J  ♦ AQ76.

East must reduce to five cards, but 4 must be diamonds or all the diamonds are good. So east USA discard all but one heart.  If declarer watches the spot cards carefully they will realize ♥ 7 is the thirteenth trick. 

Had any of the four spade bidders made 7, they would have been next to top on the board!

This is an excellent example of a basic endplay situation, that all declares should recognize.  After drawing trump, lead a diamond from your hand.  South will win and return either a spade or a diamond.  Assume a diamond is returned, continue diamonds winning the last diamond with the king in dummy. Now you have two endplay choices. Declarer can play A,K, and another club, hoping north is forced to win. Now two spades and 10 tricks are guaranteed.  

But plan B may be better.  Take the spade finesse. When it loses win the spade return and play a third spade. The defense must now lead a club, and you make the winning decision when you play for split honors.

I like plan B better at matchpoints. If the spade finesse is on declarer now has an odds on chance for 11 tricks and all the matchpoints!

It's hard to envision an arrangement of spades that would allow 5spades to make if spades aren't 2-2. But sure enough this is it.  Your extra chance comes from leading a heart to your hand and a trump toward the Q♠ .  East must rise, smothering the J♠ .  Now the Q♠ can drive out the A♠ . 

But, don't forget to cash the AK♣ first, pitching your last diamond.  Otherwise east can win the first spade and lead a second diamond, forcing declarer to ruff with the Q♠ .

Its possible this line looses to a 2-2 trump break when west has doubleton AK♠ , wins and returns a heart for partner to ruff.  That is less likely and my poor excuse for lazy thinking.  

This problem perfectly illustrates the choice of ruffling losers in the hand with short trump, or preserving the entry to take advantage of the long side suit.

If you choose to ruff spades twice in dummy, you can only come to 10 tricks. 5♥ , 2 ruffs, 2 clubs, and 1♦ .  After riffing the second spade you must either play the K♦ or come to your hand with a club. Either way you will get only 1 diamond trick.

The better choice is to immediately lead a ♦ at trick three.  Most norths will rise A♦ fearing a singleton. Now the diamonds are all good and you have 4 discards, for 11 tricks.  Only a K♠ lead at trick 1 defeats 5♥ .

At the table declarer suggested partner pass allowing declarer to dbl(correct). Partner chose to bid because of the offensive value of the ♦ Suit(correct).  Had declarer been more respectful of partners reasoning their score would have improved from 0 to average +. And the moral is....

In this case declarer should duck both club leads.  There is nothing to be gained by covering, unless west holds the A♣ , which is very unlikely.  Declarer is rewarded when east must play the A♣ at trick two.

After winning the A♦ there are choices. You should attack trump, but how? You know east is ready to trump a third club, and will have that opportunity if you lose a spade finesse. You make 3♠ if you go to the A♠ and finesse the Q♠ . But should you take that risk. A better strategy is to play the A♠ , K♠ , and lead a heart.  If the Q♠ appears you make three, otherwise you are assured of making your contract.

There are a couple of choices. With a 3-2 heart break you should have 2 heart tricks, 1 diamond, one spade, a diamond ruff, and 5 club tricks, if all can be accomplished before losing a spade. For this to work you need the person with the third trump to hold 4+ clubs, so that after the opponents win a heart, and lead a spade, you are able to discard all your spades on clubs.  The chances of this working are less than 50%, roughly 25-30%.

Alternately, you can win the first club, and immediately finesse the J♦ . Not easy to visualize, but if this draws the A♦ you are home. The opponents return a spade, you win in hand, throw two losing spades on the KQ♦ , play A♥ and second ♥ .  Whether opponents cash their last trump or return a spade you run clubs for 10 tricks. This choice works about 50% of the time.

It is hard to combine these chances as the diamond finesse must be taken immediately and the club play is only effective after playing two rounds of trump.

BUT they both work! Are you surprised these winning options were not found at the table?

Not wanting to expose yourself to a heart lead through your J♥ , you duck again.  West fearing giving you a trick in the red suits, switches to a low spade.  You call for the 10♠ from dummy and it wins. It looks like the spade finesse may be on and you still have the A♥ in dummy. 

So, attack the clubs. I would lead the 9♣ first. This retains the K♣ as an entry should the club finesse lose and west chooses to play the K♥ taking the A♥ off the board. When west shows out play the K♣ from dummy and another club. On the play of the fourth club, west's hand comes unraveled. 

Your hand is ♠ 5 ♥ J9 ♦ AJ ♣ J .  Dummy is ♠ AKJ6 ♥ A5 .  West, who by this point must have the Q♠, or would have pitched multiple spades by now, has to hold 4 spades, or all your spades are good and you have the last 6 tricks. When he keeps all four spades his hand is now ♠ Q987 ♥ Q ♦ Q.  So next you play A♦ . If the Q♦   falls you next play the J♦ pitching a spade and heart. The spade finesse gives you the rest.  

If the Q♦ does not appear west can have at most 3 spades, so pitch a heart from dummy and take the spade finesse. Dummy will be up.

The key is being patient at tricks 1 and 2, keeping all your chances in play!

Supporting our theme of combining chances, this hand is a good example of taking advantage of all your options.  Spades might come home, the club finesse might work, you could get lucky in hearts.  But you also might want to be careful at trick one. Thinking ahead you see that you would prefer to lead up to the KQ♥ , and you would like to win the first trump with the K♠ so you can take the restricted choice finesse if north plays the Q or J♠ on the first spade trick.  It's hard to do both if you win the second diamond in dummy.

So, go up with the K♦ , winning the diamond return with the Q♦ . Next lead the 2♥ . If South plays the A♥ you can pitch two clubs on the KQ♥ and avoid the club finesse.  No such luck.  North is now stuck with a tuff lead.  A spade return luckily gives up nothing. You should win the spade in dummy and ruff a small heart before playing the K♠ . When spades don't cooperate lead a third. South wins and returns a Diamond which you ruff.

Now play to the A♣ , next playing Q♥ discarding a club.  When the J♥ falls you are rewarded for you foresight.  The 9♥ is now good, and you can discard a second club.  You have taken advantage of all your chances to avoid a losing club finesse, and make your contract.

You don't want to rely on the spade finesse if you can avoid it.  There may be a slight inference that south holds the A♠  because he led from a ♥  honor rather than a ♠ . But declarer has a better option.  After drawing trump, declarer should lead a small ♣ from his hand. When south plays low declarer covers in dummy forcing north to win.  Now the defense can never get 2 page tricks. If north doesn't play a spade at this point declarer will make 6.

South does better to play the J♣ forcing declarer to play the K♣ from dummy.  Now declarer plays a small ♣ from dummy.  If noth plays the Q♣ declarer ducks. If noth plays small declarer wins the A♣ and leads hi last club hoping north started with 3.

This is a difficult problem, because even if you visualize all the possibilities, it is almost impossible to determine which combination leads to the highest probability of success.  It is a great problem in combining chances however. 

First tackle the spade suit.  It is slightly more likely spades split 2-2 than taking a successful finesse, but this choice influences other options should it not work. So win the heart ❤️ lead with the Q, and play the A♠ and a ♠ to the K♠ . When the Q♠ doesn't drop play K♥ , A♦ , K♦ , A♥ , pitching a club. Now play a third ♦ to the Q.  If they split your home.  When they don't, lead a spade, forcing east lead a club or give a ruff and discard. That doesn't work either, as west holds K♣ . So, down 1. Chances of success 52%(2-2♠ )+20%(3-3♦ , .48x.40)+14%(Q♠ &K♣ in same hand, .28x50)= 86%. Rather than endplaying east, declarer could squeeze west for the 12th trick.(see below). If the Q♠ does drop, the squeeze will lead to the 13th trick.

Another approach.  Let's say you are a deep thinker and visualize the squeeze possibilities at trick 1. You also see that a defender may help you out even if you lose the spade finesse.  This is how you might proceed.  Win the ♥ lead in dummy and plan to finesse the Q♠ . Before you do however play off the hearts. K♥ , ♠ to the A♠ , A♥ . Now finesse the Q♠ .  When this works, draw trump play the A♣ and the rest of your spades. At this point you hold ♦ K94 ♣ Q, dummy ♦ AQ53. West cannot hang onto 4 diamonds and the ♣ K, so you make 7.

If your finesse loses either the defender held 3 and returns a trump ( in which case diamonds breaking or the squeeze makes six), or the defender is out of spades and must lead a club or diamond, in which case might give you the 12th trick.  If not you still have diamonds breaking or the squeeze.

Chances of success 50%(finesse)+5%(estimate defender making helpful lead after winning ♠ Q)+18%(3-3♦ .40x .45)+13%(squeeze .50x.26)= 86%.

What took you so long?😉😉😉

By the way if you happen to be in 6NT, whether you find the Q♠ or not, the contract is a likely make because declarer is forced to rely on the K♣ / diamond squeeze.  The squeeze happens even if declarer is unaware as long as declarer plays off spades and heart winners first.

Remember the auction. South bid two suits, one of them clubs, and neither of them diamonds. The club finesse is unlikely to succeed.  Often in situations like this, it is right to run your long suit, hoping something good happens.  But be careful.  If diamonds are 3-0, they are likely with north, so play to the K♦ . You are rewarded when south shows out. Finesse the Q♦ and run the suit. 

With six cards remaining your hand is ♠ 95 ♥ K   ♣ AJ3.  South pitches to ♠ AK8 ♥ A   ♣ K10.  The west and north hands are mostly immaterial.  Now a lead of a heart or spade end plays west.  West can take 4 tricks but must lead a club to the AJ.

Dont mistakenly leave a singleton Q♣ On dummy. (I did that).😂 Now south can play the 10♣ and escape.  Also south can defeat the contract but retaining a second heart, pitching a good spade. This is difficult to visualize at the table.

It's a bidders game these days.  If south doesn't open, north/south never get in the auction. If west doesn't overcall 3♥ east/west may never get in the auction.  East/west did well not to double.

Its tempting to ruff a ♥ before drawing trump.  If you win the trump lead and lead a small ♥ to set up a ruff, east may win and lead the K♣ . You have four losers before you get started. Win the trump lead in hand and play the 9♦ finessing the K♦ .  Now draw a second round of trump with the A♠.   Repeat the diamond finesse.  At this point the contract is made when diamonds split 3-3. Five spades and five diamonds.

To defeat the contract west must underlead the A♣ at trick one or at trick 2 after leading the A♥ .

The key to this hand is finding the Q♣ . Most players would play for the clubs to break 2-2 without additional information.

In this case however, East is known to hold at least 6, probably 7♥ .  As a result west is more likely to hold 3 or 4♣.

So win the ♠, lead the A♣  and another club, planning to finesse the Q.

If East plays a second ♥ at trick two, you need to be concerned that west is out of hearts.  You need to double your bet that west is long clubs, and trump with the Ace.

When west shows out of hearts,  you will be in position to finesse west for the Q♣