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Bridge 5/25
Another temptation to be resisted
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In yesterday's deal, many declarers would have been tempted to take the diamond finesse at trick one, although when it lost, it should have been fatal to the contract. If the finesse was declined, the contract was almost certain to make.
    This is another example. First, though, look only at the South hand. West opens one heart, your partner makes a takeout double, and East passes. What would you do?
    Let's assume that you reach six spades. West leads the heart king. What would be your plan?
    In reply to partner's takeout double, you could cue-bid two hearts, showing 12 high-card points or more. But you know that you wish to make spades the trump suit, you should realize that slam probably has play, and there is no way to find out if partner has exactly the right cards for a grand slam. So shock everyone by immediately jumping to six spades. (Debate among yourselves whether — or what — East, despite holding a Yarborough and being vulnerable, should bid over North's double.)
    You seem to have two unavoidable losers: one diamond (you know West has the king) and one club. However, you can make the contract if you skewer West. You must ruff in your hand at trick one. Then draw trumps ending in hand and lead specifically the club four from your hand. How can West defend?
    If he ducks his ace, you win on the board and discard your club king on the heart ace, losing only one diamond trick. If West takes his club ace, you will discard your three low diamonds on dummy's heart ace and club queen-jack. It's heads you win, tails he loses.
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