Dubious Logic

Spade Spots

Writing about a declarer play problem a couple of weeks ago I used the phrase 'in isolation' concerning the play of this trump suit:

With only one lead towards the honours, to win seven of East's eight spades, you can succeed whenever North holds Ax or Qx – you just have to guess which. All other things being equal (which they seldom are) you should play to the king. Why? In addition to North's Ax – actually A7 or A3, so two chances – you gain when he has A73 because South's singleton queen will fall under your king.

How do you tackle this more ordinary holding?

If you need four tricks your best play is to lead low to the knave and you'll scoop the pool if North holds king-doubleton. To get three tricks you should start by leading the queen. While if North or South has a singleton king this is wrong (two cases), whenever South has singleton eight, nine or ten, you can subsequently take a finesse of the knave-seven. Strangely, as players gain experience, they become more wary of leading honours in these situations. Replace the seven spot with the five and the ace is correct for three tricks.

Usually you like to get as many tricks as possible but back to 'all other things being (not quite) equal', take this deal from the recent Suffolk Knock-Out Semi-Final:

South passed as dealer but overcalled clubs after West opened a diamond and East bid a heart. West came to rest in four spades. The lead was the club queen, king, ace, six. South got off lead with the diamond six won by the ace; how should South play spades?

Those trumps have a lot of work to do; they must control clubs, ruff diamonds good and play for three tricks (you cannot lose two spades, the heart king and club ace). Certainly bringing in the spade suit without loss would be useful but the chances are against it. North is short in clubs, could he be short in spades too? Unlikely – if anyone, he has the length. The indicated play is to give up on taking four tricks and play for three by leading the queen.

Even if South wins you are still in the game though spades will have to be 3-2 (plus some fortune in hearts and diamonds). With North holding the trump king (and covering the queen), you have to exercise care: next lead to the heart queen, South surely has one major king. When in, if South plays a red card you can win and finesse the seven of spades – even if that loses you are still safe. But if South awkwardly leads a second club North will threaten an over-ruff and you'll have to back your judgement on the next spade – did South start with just the ten or ten-nine (even ten-eight)?

Both declarers couldn't help wishing for a simple life and played the first spade to the knave and both went one light – even with both kings onside.

Published Saturday 14.Mar.2009