Bridge - The Scotsman 04/01/2012

SOMETIMES we can use a suit we are cashing to provide essential entries to a hand that need them.

In this 3NT contract declarer was not pleased to see a threatening club lead. West led the five to partner’s ace, and played the three on the return, warning declarer that he had five clubs and a likely entry in hearts.

At this point declarer has six Sure Tricks: the club he had taken, four diamonds and a spade. He might establish a heart for a seventh trick, but that is too slow – opponents will make two hearts and three clubs before he gets going. The only hope of making nine tricks before opponents make five is to take four spade tricks. For this line to succeed East must hold the king of spades. If he has four spades it will be necessary to finesse three times, which requires three entries to dummy. The only way to reach dummy is in diamonds. With careful play, that suit will provide three entries provided it breaks 3-2: declarer cashes the ace, dropping the three in dummy; then plays the eight to the queen. Having reached dummy, he plays a spade to the ten. He re-enters dummy by playing the jack of diamonds to the king and plays a spade to the jack. Finally, he plays the carefully preserved four of diamonds and overtakes with dummy’s five. That allows him to play dummy’s third spade to the queen, cash the ace, and claim his contract.