BRIDGE BITES #32
|
SECOND HAND HIGH
Brian Gunnell |
“Second hand low” is common
advice, but this is a hand where it pays to ignore that recommendation.
|
♠ K
♥
96
♦
AJT98
♣ J9764 |
|
|
E-W Vulnerable
South West North East
1NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
|
♠ JT98
♥
432
♦
K6
♣ K853 |
Dummy
West East
Declarer |
♠ A762
♥
JT87
♦
Q75
♣ QT |
|
♠ Q543
♥
AKQ5
♦
432
♣ A2 |
|
North saw no reason to mess
about showing the minors, so she jumped straight to game in the most likely
contract. West had the obvious lead of the ♠J, won by East’s Ace. Back
came a Spade and Declarer could see 9 tricks if she could bring in the
Diamonds. She finessed the
♦J,
losing to the Queen. The defense cashed their Spades, but Dummy’s Diamonds
were good. Declarer’s 9 tricks were a Spade, three Hearts, four Diamonds
and a Club. Somebody goofed, who was it?
►
Yes, indeed, West was the
goofster. We are always told “second hand low, third hand high” but (as
usual) there are exceptions and this was one of them. When Declarer led
that first round of Diamonds, West must hop up with the King! This alert
play makes it impossible for Declarer to bring in the Diamonds for four
tricks. If she takes the
♦A
on the first round then East will duck the second round of Diamonds … and if
Declarer ducks the first round then the best she can do is to score three
Diamonds, which is not enough.
It’s a recurring theme.
Dummy has AJTxx or AT9xx or some such holding … Dummy has no side-suit
entries … West has the Queen or the King … and the winning play by West to
play “second hand high” in order to jam Declarer’s communications.