This month's gem turned up during a recent club game. It's our latest installment in the "Laurel and Hardy School of Bridge." With East dealer, and only E-W vulnerable, you are North. You pick up this hand:
♠ A K J 9
♥ K 3
♦ A 7 5
♣ 6 5 4 3
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| Pass | 1NT | Pass | 2NT |
| All Pass |
East, playing 3rd/5th best leads, leads ♦2. Dummy comes down, and you see:
♠ Q 7
♥ J 8 7 5 2
♦ K J 10
♣ J 10 8
You play the 10, and West plays low.
Hmmmm. You have 7 tricks on top, all in the pointed suits. Where can you find an eighth?
Hearts are one possiblility. You can lead toward the ♥K, and if it loses, when you get in again you can lead
towards the ♥J. Trouble is, if the ♥J loses to the ♥Q, you will lose 3 hearts (at least) and 3 clubs - down one!
What about the clubs? To be sure, the suit is rather moth-eaten, but the opponents don't have to know that. Furthermore, if
(when) you lose the lead to East, your ♥K is safe from attack.
So, you win the trick in dummy and fearlessly call for the ♣J! Low from West, low from your hand, low from East. In shock, you
look at the trick again. Sure enough, there's your eighth trick. You take the money and run. The full deal:
♠ A K J 9
♥ K 3
♦ A 7 5
♣ 6 5 4 3
West saw no reason to cover the ♣J with his holding, assuming you had a club honor or two in your hand. East ducked for the same reason, to avoid helping you set up your "suit." Better lucky than good, as they say.