Declarer can count five trump tricks (assuming
the worst, that the ♠K is offside), and
three side-suit tricks. That’s only eight, and the shortfall must be made up
with Heart ruffs on the board. Obviously that won’t be possible if the trump
finesse loses to West’s King and another trump comes back.
So, the plan is to grab the trump Ace, ruff a
Heart, return to hand, ruff another Heart, return to hand, and play trumps.
Yes, Declarer must return to hand twice, what’s the safest way to do this?
►
You could return to hand twice with your Club
winners, and could count yourself as unfortunate if the suit were 5-1 and West
were to ruff the second one, holding you to 9 tricks. Better to use Diamond
ruffs to get back to hand, that only fails if Diamonds are 6-1 and West
has the ♠K and West still has a
trump left to stop Dummy’s second ruff. Here’s the full diagram:
►
|
♠ J94
♥
5
♦
AJ643
♣ 7542 |
|
♠ K53
♥
KQT2
♦
Q9872
♣ J |
Dummy
West East
Declarer |
♠ 2
♥
AJ984
♦
KT
♣ Q9863 |
|
♠ AQT876
♥
763
♦
5
♣ AKT |
|
How about an opening trump lead?
Does that set 4♠? Actually, no! Declarer wins and plays a Heart. If East wins
that trick he cannot play another trump, and Dummy gets the two ruffs … and if
West wins he can lead a trump to stop the second ruff, but only at the expense
of his natural trump trick. A Club opening lead is no better for the defense
because, although the defense is able to arrange a Club ruff, that comes at the
expense of their natural Club trick.