Bridge - The Scotsman 18/01/2012

WE have been looking at entry management: how declarer can arrange to be in the right hand at the right time. When one hand is very weak it is particularly important to find a way to reach it.

The spade suit on this deal offers the opportunity for a very specific form of entry-creating unblock.

South opened a strong no-trump and was left to play there. West led the jack of spades. Declarer played low from dummy and East took the king. He switched to the queen of hearts, and West unblocked that suit for the defence by overtaking with the king and returning the nine to partner’s ten. Declarer took the ace, and could now cash four diamonds and a spade, but could not reach dummy to make his seventh trick with the ace of spades. The defenders threw all their spades to keep winners in clubs and hearts, and so the contract was one down.

Declarer’s problems in reaching the ace of spades can be avoided if he considers the information available from the opening lead. The lead of the jack against a no-trump contract will almost invariably be top of a sequence, indicating that the opening leader also has the ten. So declarer can expect to make two spade tricks – provided he drops the queen of spades under East’s king. Whether the defenders continue spades or switch to another suit, declarer makes the two spade tricks he needs by finessing the nine.