Bridge

The correct play in a suit varies according to circumstance. Blanket rules such as “Second Hand Low” are useful generalisations but there are always exceptions

On this deal West reached 3NT after a simple Stayman auction. If North had known the layout of the diamond suit he would lead the king or queen, but he actually led his fourth highest, the seven. Declarer reckoned that K1087 or Q1087 was more likely than KQ87 and inserted the nine. South won the ten and returned the two. Declarer ducked this to the queen and won the next diamond with the ace. There were eight Sure Tricks, and a ninth would come from hearts provided North had one of the honours. He ran the ten of hearts to the jack, won the spade return with the ace and took a second heart finesse. The defenders made three spades, two hearts and four diamonds for five down.

The heart position was certainly unlucky, but declarer erred at trick one. If South has the king or queen of diamonds is does not matter which card he plays from dummy: North’s remaining high honour will swallow the jack and the suit will be established for the defenders.

If dummy has J9x the nine is the better play, but with J9 doubleton the only chance of making two diamond tricks is to play the jack, hoping that North has led from KQ. When dummy has a loose doubleton honour you should always consider playing it at trick one.