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Universal good defence and play? Perhaps a dream!

Most declarers were in 4H by West on the following board. Some were lucky enough to have less than perfect defence to make their contract. Some failed to make their contract after less than ideal declarer play. Few made 10 tricks after the defence did the best they could. What say you?

 

North leads two top clubs and South shows a liking for clubs, which may include a doubleton. North plays a small club at trick 3. What do you play from dummy? What is your plan when you discover there is a 2-2 trump break?

If South really likes clubs, then surely they do have a doubleton since we, the declarer, hold Q? We will return to the question of showing that doubleton later.

Discarding on the third round of clubs was not a good idea since North was favourite to hold the K. The same could be said of the Q. Discarding on the third round of clubs would be fine if South had a third club but they did not.

Even some declarers who ruffed the third round of clubs did not make their contract. So, ruff the club as South discarded a spade. Draw trumps in two rounds…and then?

As long as declarer did not waste 2 of their spade honours (let’s call the 10 an honour) on the same trick, the contract was cold:

 

It really did not matter how a declarer played spades as long as a high spade was not played from dummy. If they led 10 from hand and North covered, ducking ensures three top spades for diamond discards in the West hand. Meanwhile, if playing from the East hand, a low spade is a 100% winner. If South ducks, West can return to dummy with a trump and discard 2 diamonds on AK. Contract still made.

West would have to play the same way with a 3-1 trump break but would have to make this spade play with one trump outstanding.

It is interesting that some North players switched after cashing two rounds of clubs. This made it easy for West who could use Q to discard one of dummy’s diamonds. Only one diamond would be lost.

It is a curiosity to me that some players mix reverse attitude signals with natural count. Playing reverse or natural for both seems a far easier way on a deal like this to tell partner they hold a doubleton. I suspect some North players were just not clear of the true club lay-out.

However, several declarers missed their safest way to 10 tricks. Next time, their singleton will not be the oh so useful 10. Use your honour cards wisely.

Richard Solomon

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