All News

“What If?”

Those two words should be right in front of a declarer every time they play a contract, a reminder to take nothing for granted. Take a look here:

 

1H promised at least a 5-card suit, the redouble 10+hcp normally without heart support.  The opponents made a bit of a nuisance of themselves with East’s jump to 2 being more pre-emptive than constructive. North felt that 3NT required more than one hold in spades and so asked for one. When South could not find one, North tried for the 4-level game in hearts.

West led K. Plan the play.

In order to speed up your thoughts, you win and play trumps with the suit breaking 3-3. Now what?

So, the first “ What if” was what would have happened had the trump break not been so friendly? The simple answer is that this contract would not be making… but then neither would have 3NT or probably 5, the other possible games. So, 4 is as good a place to be as any.

That trump break was great news…5 hearts, A and 4 club tricks. Nice.

Are you ready for the next “what if”? What if West, the doubler had 4 clubs? That was quite possible. You would have to take a view. If they held JTxx, you would have to guess after you play A..and would have plenty “egg on your face” if you finessed when East produced 10 or J on the second round. So, maybe, play a club to the K and if East held singleton 10 or J, the situation would become clear when you play a second club to the ace.

Some “ifs and maybes” there. Maybe the club break was 3-2 after all. Could East have 4 clubs? That would presumably give West a 4351 shape. If that was the case, you could not avoid a club loser. Contract down? Maybe.

Are you ready for one last “what if”?

 

Well, that was a slightly off-beat take-out double from West, though you can kind of see why they chose that bid.

“What if” you could discard a potential club loser on the third round of diamonds? It cost nothing to try because you are going to lose two diamonds anyway and you have control of spade plays with two more trumps.

So, after playing 3 rounds of hearts, you leave clubs well alone. Play a diamond to 10. Well, had West held AK, they might have led one at trick 1. When the 10 draws the A, you should start feeling a warm glow. The defence plays 2 more rounds of spades, with you ruffing in your hand to play a second diamond. West must have K for their double….and suddenly you hope East has 4 clubs.

You can play 3 top clubs and Q to come to 10 tricks. All the precautions were worthwhile after all. 

“What if?” 2 very useful words.

Richard Solomon

Go Back View All News Items