Willie Tyler said, "The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time."
In this deal, there are two ways that you might get nine tricks, but the second is hard to spot. If you see it, a flash like a bolt of lightning will run through your brain and you will smile happily to yourself. Against your contract of three no-trump, West leads the spade queen. What would you do?
Some experts would open the South hand with one diamond, planning to reverse with a two-heart bid on the second round. That is reasonable, and here would probably result in three no-trump being played by North. But it is also sensible to start with two no-trump.
There is a strong temptation to win the first trick in hand and play off the king-queen of clubs, planning to cross to the spade ace and run the clubs. When the clubs break 4-1, though, suddenly lightning has incinerated your contract.
If the clubs are breaking, fine; if they are not, you will need to work with the diamonds. So, after taking the first trick with your spade ace and cashing the club king, lead the club queen and overtake with dummy's ace. If the clubs are 3-2 all along, play a third round. You will have lost only an overtrick. But when East discards, run the diamond nine. West wins with his queen and returns a spade, but you take that with the king on the board and play a diamond to your jack. When it holds and the ace brings down East's king, suddenly all is fair weather and sunshine.
In this deal, there are two ways that you might get nine tricks, but the second is hard to spot. If you see it, a flash like a bolt of lightning will run through your brain and you will smile happily to yourself. Against your contract of three no-trump, West leads the spade queen. What would you do?
Some experts would open the South hand with one diamond, planning to reverse with a two-heart bid on the second round. That is reasonable, and here would probably result in three no-trump being played by North. But it is also sensible to start with two no-trump.
There is a strong temptation to win the first trick in hand and play off the king-queen of clubs, planning to cross to the spade ace and run the clubs. When the clubs break 4-1, though, suddenly lightning has incinerated your contract.
If the clubs are breaking, fine; if they are not, you will need to work with the diamonds. So, after taking the first trick with your spade ace and cashing the club king, lead the club queen and overtake with dummy's ace. If the clubs are 3-2 all along, play a third round. You will have lost only an overtrick. But when East discards, run the diamond nine. West wins with his queen and returns a spade, but you take that with the king on the board and play a diamond to your jack. When it holds and the ace brings down East's king, suddenly all is fair weather and sunshine.