Henry J. Tillman claimed: "The saying 'Getting there is half the fun' became obsolete with the advent of commercial airlines."
That is even truer today, but in the middle of "obsolete" is "sole" — and the original declarer went down in this three-no-trump contract because he did not allow for the sole layout that could defeat him. Can you do better? West leads the spade jack and East puts up the king. What would be your plan?
North uses Stayman to try to uncover a 4-4 spade fit, but when South denies a four-card major, North settles into three no-trump, hoping the club suit will not be a fatal weakness.
You have eight top tricks: two spades (given trick one), three hearts and three clubs. You can establish three more winners from those delectable diamonds — and you have the heart ace nestling on the board as an entry, should the opponents duck one round of the suit.
Thinking along those lines, the original declarer took the first trick and led the diamond queen from his hand. West won with his king and continued with a high spade, driving out South's queen. And when West got in with his diamond ace, he ran his spades. West took three spades and two diamonds for down one.
You knew that this was a fishy deal, so should have ducked the first trick. If East had another spade to return, the suit would be dividing 4-2, and you would lose at most two spades and two diamonds. Here, East would have to shift, leaving you with two spade stoppers to control the suit while you dislodged West's diamond honors.
That is even truer today, but in the middle of "obsolete" is "sole" — and the original declarer went down in this three-no-trump contract because he did not allow for the sole layout that could defeat him. Can you do better? West leads the spade jack and East puts up the king. What would be your plan?
North uses Stayman to try to uncover a 4-4 spade fit, but when South denies a four-card major, North settles into three no-trump, hoping the club suit will not be a fatal weakness.
You have eight top tricks: two spades (given trick one), three hearts and three clubs. You can establish three more winners from those delectable diamonds — and you have the heart ace nestling on the board as an entry, should the opponents duck one round of the suit.
Thinking along those lines, the original declarer took the first trick and led the diamond queen from his hand. West won with his king and continued with a high spade, driving out South's queen. And when West got in with his diamond ace, he ran his spades. West took three spades and two diamonds for down one.
You knew that this was a fishy deal, so should have ducked the first trick. If East had another spade to return, the suit would be dividing 4-2, and you would lose at most two spades and two diamonds. Here, East would have to shift, leaving you with two spade stoppers to control the suit while you dislodged West's diamond honors.