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“Deduce” is not de lowest card in de deck. Clues from the bidding and defense — and they are always available — can help declarer deduce a winning play.
Against 3NT, West led the ♠2: three, jack, king. Declarer next took the ♣A K. When West threw a diamond, declarer continued with the ♥K Q and a third heart to dummy’s ace. This time East pitched a spade, so South led a club to his 10 and cashed the ace. At the ninth trick he led a diamond to dummy’s king, but East won and the defense had the rest.
Down one.
| Dlr: South | ♠ 8 7 3 | |||||||||||||
| Vul: N-S | ♥ A 10 4 2 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ K 6 5 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ 7 5 2 | ||||||||||||||
| ♠ A Q 6 2 | ♠ J 9 4 | |||||||||||||
| ♥ J 7 6 5 | ♥ 9 8 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ Q 9 7 2 | ♦ A 10 4 | |||||||||||||
| ♣ 3 | ♣ J 9 8 6 4 | |||||||||||||
| ♠ K 10 5 | ||||||||||||||
| ♥ K Q 3 | ||||||||||||||
| ♦ J 8 3 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ A K Q 10 | ||||||||||||||
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Opening lead — ♠2
Opening Lead
South could deduce from the deuce: West’s opening lead. The ♠2 suggests a four-card holding. South also knows West had one club. But if West had a five-card diamond suit, he would have led that suit — the other unbid suit — against 3NT.
South should play West for 4-4-4-1 distribution. After South takes the ♥K Q, he should lead a heart to dummy’s 10. He wins four hearts, four clubs and a spade.
Daily Question
You hold:
♠ A Q 6 2
♥ J 7 6 5
♦ Q 9 7 2
♣ 3
Your partner opens 1♦, you respond 1♥ and he bids 1♠. What do you say?